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Details of Felix Hernandez's no-trade clause

March 16, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

File this one away for July.

Felix Hernandez has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract with the Seattle Mariners. During this season, the right-hander will be able to block deals to the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and two unknown teams, a major league source said.

We shouldn’t infer from that list that Hernandez wants to avoid large-market clubs. Rather, astute players (and agents) will often protect against trades to high-revenue teams, because those clubs (a) are most likely to be interested in acquiring expensive players and (b) have the wherewithal to offer financial inducements that encourage players to waive the clauses.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has said Hernandez isn’t available on the trade market. But some in the industry believe that could change if the Mariners start slowly for a second straight year.

Hernandez signed a five-year, $78 million contract extension prior to last season. The deal is actually richer than that, since Hernandez’s 2011 salary jumped from $10 million to $11 million after he won the Cy Young Award last season.

— Jon Paul Morosi

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Quick notes from spring training

March 13, 2011 by KenRosenthal

The Oakland Athletics would like to add an inexpensive utility infielder as they await the return of Adam Rosales, who is recovering from offseason surgery on his right foot and likely will be out until May.

Chances are, though, the A’s will opt for an internal solution; they’ve been playing third baseman Andy LaRoche at short. The Tigers’ Ramon Santiago would make sense, but even he would be too pricey for the A’s at $1.25 million.

• Yankees rookie catcher Jesus Montero is likely to open the season as the backup to Russell Martin. His bat might tempt the Yankees into expanding his playing time, but a scout says that the Yankees will need to bring Montero along slowly, citing the difficulty all rookie catchers face adapting to the speed of the game in the majors.

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Lefty CC Sabathia is perhaps the only one of the Yankees’ top three starters who is low-maintenance for a catcher. Righty Phil Hughes is still developing as a pitcher, and A.J. Burnett also requires veteran guidance.

• Mariners third baseman Chone Figgins needed a few days to think about it, but he finally came up with a comparison for second-base prospect Dustin Ackley.

“A more athletic Todd Walker,” Figgins said, referring to the former major league second baseman.

Mariners fans might prefer to hear, “Chase Utley,” but Walker finished his career with a .783 OPS. His defense was below average, but his peers greatly respected his offensive talent — and Figgins was talking about Ackley as a hitter.

Ackley, the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, is entering his second full season at second base and likely to start the season at Triple-A.

• For all the talk about how the Phillies could replace Utley, their injured second baseman, the club's utility-infield candidates — Wilson Valdez, Peter Orr, Josh Barfield — are playing well this spring.

None, obviously, is Utley, but sources continue to say that the Phillies cannot take on a big salary. To acquire the Rangers' Michael Young — if Utley were out for a prolonged stretch — the Phils would need Texas to take right-hander Joe Blanton and include cash in the deal. The Rangers are reluctant to make that type of trade.

• The Blue Jays are building impressive pitching depth.

Manager John Farrell told reporters that left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who is out of minor-league options, could make the team as a reliever. Righties Jesse Litsch and Kyle Drabek are the favorites for the final two rotation spots, possibly leaving lefty Marc Rzepczynski to start the season at Triple-A.

Right-hander Zach Stewart also will open at Triple-A, and the Jays are excited by the progress of righty Henderson Alvarez, who has touched 97 mph and changed the grip on his slider, creating more tilt. Alvarez likely will open at Double-A.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Torre on game pace, MLB hirings, Michael Young

March 09, 2011 by KenRosenthal

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Joe Torre, chatting with reporters Wednesday in his new role as MLB’s executive vice-president for baseball operations, displayed the same relaxed manner he did in his daily news conferences as a manager.

Torre touched on a wide variety of topics, offering insights on the pace of game, Michael Young’s situation with the Rangers and MLB’s recent hirings of Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, former Diamondbacks assistant GM and Peter Woodfork as senior VPs.

Pace of game is an issue that Torre will now tackle from a different perspective. During his days managing the Yankees, the Yankees and Red Sox received frequent criticism for playing lengthy games.

“I want to look at it,” Torre said. “That’s a dirty job for the umpires. In talking to the managers, that’s certainly something we’ve mentioned.

“As managers — and this only came to me when I was part of the commissioner’s committee (for on-field matters) — we have to do our share. Have the players understand what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to change guys’ idiosyncracies. But we want to at least make them aware that it’s not a punishment.

“It’s just something we’re trying to work on. It’s a hot button for the commissioner. I don’t think there’s any question about it. It’s a ‘feel’ thing at this time. I’m not trying to avoid the question. It’s more, ‘let’s look at it.’”

As for his new senior VPs, Torre worked with Ng with both the Yankees and Dodgers. He is less familiar with Woodfork, but offered high praise for both.

“She’s very efficient. She’s very bright," Torre said of Ng. "As a manager, I always tried to hire people smarter than I am, because it certainly helps. She has a lot of baseball knowledge. She’s very organized.

“I just met Peter last week. I’m very impressed with his abilities. I think the energy level at MLB is going to be very impressive. These people know what they’re doing.

"Down the road, I’m sure they aspire to be the general manager of a club. This is great for two people who have been on both sides of this thing. They both worked for MLB at one time.”

And finally, Torre mentioned that he personally complimented Michael Young while visiting the Rangers on Wednesday. Young has requested a trade from the Rangers, but has gone about his business professionally this spring.

“I told him I was proud of him. I said that he’s a grownup,” Torre said. “The thing about baseball is that there’s a lot of unpredictability about the game. You have to understand that you’ve got to be ready.

“They say managers change their mind — that’s true. But managers make decisions on what you have available to you on that particular day. If something changes, it’s not like you’re changing your mind, but you have a different set of circumstances to deal with.

“But Michael Young is a throwback for me. He just works hard. You try to tell players, ‘Control the things you can control.’ Leave the other stuff to somebody else. He’s certainly doing that.”

— Ken Rosenthal

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Why Yankees won't fear keeping Montero as backup

March 05, 2011 by KenRosenthal

Teams frequently are reluctant to carry top position prospects as reserves, reasoning that the players can better develop with everyday work in the minors.

The Yankees' Jesus Montero figures to be an exception for two reasons. He is a catcher. And he plays for a New York team.

"There is a lot of knowledge that a catcher has to absorb that you just won’t get at Triple A," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday morning.

"If it’s the second week of April and he has only pinch-hit or started one game, I won’t consider it a lost week. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that he has never experienced before.

"He can watch, see how (starter Russell Martin) goes through it – pre-game, advance scouting meetings, all those things. When he gets in there in the future, he’ll be fully prepared, rather than just sink or swim.

"You can learn that way, too. But it’s harder in New York. There is a lot more attention. If a veteran starter gives up a game-deciding home run, the question is going to be, 'Do you agree with what the young catcher called?' It will be lights, camera, action.

"That doesn’t happen in other ballparks. And you’ve got to remember, this kid is only 21 years old."

Montero’s chances of breaking with the Yankees improved markedly Friday when the team learned that Francisco Cervelli, the incumbent backup, will wear a protective boot for at least four weeks due to a fractured left foot.

Martin, coming off minor surgery on his right knee, made his first Grapefruit League start Friday night. Cashman repeated that Martin will be the team’s starting catcher, calling him “a huge bounceback candidate."

The Yankees signed Martin, 28, to a one-year, $4 million free-agent contract in part because they could retain him in 2012 through arbitration, and in part to allow Montero to develop at his own pace.

Montero, 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, entered spring training with major questions about his defense. But manager Joe Girardi, a former catcher, has praised Montero’s work behind the plate this spring, as have several Yankees pitchers.

The turnaround actually began in the second half of last season. Montero, at age 20, batted .351/.396/.684 in 44 games after the All-Star break at Triple A. The improvement in his defense followed.

"From June on, he took a quantum leap,” Cashman said. “When his bat came around, his catching did, too. He was lights out – lights out. He always had a great work ethic. Now people are getting a chance to see it and realize it.”

— Ken Rosenthal

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The futures of CC, Roy O and Cole

February 14, 2011 by KenRosenthal

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was not the only pitcher discussing his future as spring training opened. Two of the Phillies’ top starters, right-hander Roy Oswalt and lefty Cole Hamels, also addressed their potential next steps.

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Oswalt, who turns 34 on Aug. 29, repeated what he told FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi a year ago: That he might retire at the end of the 2011 season. The Phillies hold a $16 million club option on Oswalt for ‘12. The pitcher also can opt out and take a reduced buyout.

“I’ll play this year and see how it goes,” Oswalt said at a news conference Monday. “I’ll see where my body’s at and pretty much go from there.”

Hamels, 27, is an entirely different position. He will earn $9.5 million this season in the final year of his current deal. After that, he will be eligible for arbitration in ’12, his final season before free agency.

The Phillies, regardless of what Oswalt decides, could attempt to negotiate an extension with Hamels after this season.

“I want to be here as long as I possibly can,” Hamels told FOXSports.com Sunday. “It’s why Cliff (Lee) came back. It’s the reason Roy (Halladay) wanted to be here. It’s a great place to play.

“I want to be here for the majority of my time of being a baseball player. I’ve never looked at anything else. I just know that if I stay healthy and I’m able to go out and help the team, that is all going to speak for itself.”

As for Sabathia, he created a stir at Yankees camp Monday by declining to rule out that he would exercise his opt-out clause and become a free agent at the end of this season.

“It’s still in my contract,” Sabathia told reporters. “Anything can happen.”

Sabathia, who turns 31 on July 21, previously had said he would not opt out, and he has four years and $92 million remaining on his deal. Still, he might do even better that as a free agent – or, at the very least, leverage the Yankees into a better deal.

The Yankees generally do not discuss contracts with their players, managers, coaches and executives until the end of a season. They do not figure to make an exception for Sabathia, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for the second time in late October.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Giants agree to minor-league deal with Christian

February 05, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a minor-league contract with outfielder Justin Christian, a source told FOXSports.com.

Christian, 30, played at Class AA and Class AAA in the New York Yankees’ farm system last year. He reached the majors with the Yankees in 2008, batting .250 with seven stolen bases and no home runs in 24 games.

Christian is a right-handed hitter who played primarily left field last season. He had an .801 OPS and 22 stolen bases in 103 games between the two affiliates.

The contract doesn’t include an invitation to major-league camp, the source said. Christian is currently playing for Mexico in the Caribbean Series.

— Jon Paul Morosi

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Yankees' utility competition: six players for two jobs

February 05, 2011 by KenRosenthal

With shortstop Derek Jeter turning 37 and third baseman Alex Rodriguez 36 this season, the Yankees might need their utility infielders more than most clubs.

By signing third baseman Eric Chavez and infielder Ron Belliard to minor-league contracts, the team is trying to create a spirited competition for its two utility jobs.

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Six players are in the mix for those positions – Ramiro Pena, the incumbent backup shortstop; Eduardo Nunez, Brandon Laird and Kevin Russo, all of whom are products of the Yankees’ farm system; plus Chavez and Belliard.

Pena and Nunez are the only members of the group who play shortstop, so at least one of them figures to make the club. The others will compete for a corner-infield spot and serve as the primary backup to Rodriguez at third base.

Chavez, 33, appeared in only 64 games for the A’s the past three seasons due to a variety of injuries. Belliard, 35, spent last season with the Dodgers, batting only .216/.295/.327 in 185 plate appearances.

Nunez, 23, could ultimately become a super-utility man; he also played second and third last season, and the Yankees experimented with him in the outfield in the Instructional League.

Laird, 23, hit 25 home runs in the minors last season, but has only 122 at-bats above Class AA. Russo, 25, appeared in 31 games with the Yankees last season, batting only .184/.245/.224.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Would Andy Pettitte settle for Hiroki Kuroda money?

January 31, 2011 by KenRosenthal

The Yankees’ offer to free-agent left-hander Andy Pettitte is or will be one year, $12 million, according to SI.com.

To which Pettitte might reply, “Is that all?”

The Dodgers signed free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda in November for those exact terms. And Kuroda, while an effective pitcher, is not as accomplished as Pettitte.

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Kuroda, who turns 36 on Feb. 10, was 11-13 with a 3.39 ERA last season, working 196 1/3 innings.

Pettitte, who turns 39 on June 15, was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA, working only 129 innings in the regular season.

The difference in the respective ERAs of the two pitchers actually is deceptive; Pettitte pitched in a tougher home park than Kuroda and a tougher league.

He also performed well in both of his postseason starts, producing the same line — two runs allowed in seven innings — against both the Twins and Rangers.

The Yankees could argue that Pettitte was sidelined from July 20 to Sept. 17 with a strained left groin. But the Yankees hardly are in a position of leverage, given their rotation needs.

Here’s guessing that, if Pettitte indeed returns, $12 million won’t get it done.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Sources: Pavano "seriously considered" Yankees

January 19, 2011 by KenRosenthal

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Wednesday that he had “several discussions” with the agent for free-agent right-hander Carl Pavano, who endured four trying seasons in New York from 2005-08.

Pavano, in turn, seriously considered returning to the Yankees, according to major league sources, even telling friends at one point that he intended to rejoin the team.

The Yankees explored a one-year deal with Pavano at a high salary, sources said. The talks fizzled when the Minnesota Twins guaranteed Pavano a second year — an important consideration for a pitcher who is 35.

According to one source, the Pavano camp made frequent contract with the Yankees, expressing a desire for the pitcher to return. The Yankees, though, were mindful of Pavano's history with the team and unwilling to forfeit a first-round draft pick by signing him — a sacrifice they later made for free-agent reliever Rafael Soriano.

Yet, the return of Pavano would not have been completely without logic.

Cashman defended Pavano throughout the pitcher’s injury-filled tenure with the Yankees. Pavano, who has averaged 210 innings the past two seasons, offered durability that the Yankees currently are lacking.

Still, Pavano’s willingness to rejoin the team was surprising. Fans, media and even teammates criticized him heavily during his time in New York. But he was willing to risk such criticism again.

Pavano’s two-year agreement with the Twins is for $16.5 million.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Latest on Yankees' search for a bat

January 17, 2011 by KenRosenthal

Andruw Jones remains a logical free agent for the Yankees. He hits right-handed. He crushed left-handed pitching last season. He easily could take over the part-time role that previously belonged to Marcus Thames.

The Yankees, though, are balking at Jones’ current asking price, major-league sources say. Thus, the team remains interested in another of Scott Boras’ free-agent clients, Johnny Damon.

An agreement with Jones is more likely; a financial compromise shouldn't be difficult, and Damon would prefer to play every day. Damon, a left-handed hitter, still handles left-handed pitching reasonably well. He batted .275/.365/.375 against left-handers last season, while Jones batted .256/.373/.558.

The Rays, too, are interested in Jones, but rank him behind other free-agent options, sources say. Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Troy Glaus, Jason Giambi, Russell Branyan, Nick Johnson and Jermaine Dye are all still on the market.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Soriano is No. 1 free agent available; who wants him?

January 07, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

Closer Rafael Soriano is the No. 1 free agent left on the market.

And yet, it’s unclear which teams are prepared to give him a contract that meets his salary demands.

Soriano earned a base salary of $7.25 million and picked up another $125,000 in performance bonuses while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays last year. He led the American League with 45 saves and maintained a 1.73 ERA. He won the Rolaids Relief Award, too. He did all of that while pitching in the majors’ best division.

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So, as a free agent, he could reasonably request $10 million per year. He certainly deserves better than setup-man money. But who is going to pay him?

The Los Angeles Angels seem to be a natural fit, despite their light-spending offseason. Fernando Rodney is the Angels’ best internal option at closer, and he blew four saves in September with a 5.65 ERA.

Other than that ...

The Texas Rangers are not pursuing Soriano. And the Baltimore Orioles apparently satisfied their need for a closer by signing Kevin Gregg.

There are conflicting reports about the New York Yankees’ interest in signing Soriano as a setup man to Mariano Rivera.

And while the Chicago White Sox are frequently mentioned as a possible suitor, two major-league sources said this week that the White Sox are unlikely to sign a free-agent reliever for more money than the contract they gave Jesse Crain: three years, $13 million.

Scott Boras is Soriano’s agent. The Great Negotiator of Newport has had an excellent offseason, signing Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre and Carlos Pena to contracts that surpassed many estimates. But if Soriano signs for huge dollars, Boras will have made his biggest save of the winter.

— Jon Paul Morosi

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Yankees showing interest in free agent Bonderman

January 04, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

The New York Yankees have shown interest in free-agent starter Jeremy Bonderman, a major league source told FOXSports.com.

Bonderman went 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) for the Detroit Tigers last year. But he is only 28 and was an All-Star-caliber pitcher in the American League as recently as 2007. He isn’t expected to return to Detroit.

The Yankees’ rotation remains in flux, pending Andy Pettitte’s decision on whether to retire or come back for another season.

— Jon Paul Morosi

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Dodgers sign Redding to minor-league deal

January 03, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed right-handed starter Tim Redding to a minor-league contract, a source told FOXSports.com.

Redding, who turns 32 next month, has been invited to the team’s big-league spring training.

In 2010, Redding went 8-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) between the Triple-A affiliates of the New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies.

Redding’s most recent big-league appearances came with the New York Mets in 2009. During the 2008 season, he threw a career-high 182 innings for the Washington Nationals.

— Jon Paul Morosi

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Fuentes: a question of worth

December 30, 2010 by KenRosenthal

Who is Brian Fuentes exactly?

To some interested executives, the free-agent reliever is more of a left-handed specialist than a setup man or closer.

Fuentes, 35, evidently is doing something right. The Red Sox, Rays, Yankees and Twins are among the many teams interested in him, according to major league sources.

The issue, as always, is price.

Fuentes wants more than $5 million per season on a multiyear deal, several execs say. Those terms are affordable for a closer, high for a setup man and exorbitant for a specialist.

So, a team's view of Fuentes' proper role is crucial toward determining what that team believes he is worth. Some clubs also might be dismissive of Fuentes' accomplishments in an effort to drive down his price.

Fuentes' left-right splits show that he is indeed more effective against left-handed hitters. But it's not as if he's horrible against righties.

Last season, when Fuentes pitched for the Angels and Twins, left-handed hitters batted only .128 against him with a .222 on-base percentage and .149 slugging. Righties hit .202/.293/.403. Those splits are fairly consistent with Fuentes’ career patterns.

His problem against righties was that when he got hit, he sometimes was hit hard. He allowed 15 extra-base hits, including five homers, in 124 at-bats.

The good news: In 48 games, Fuentes produced a 2.81 ERA, the third-lowest of his career. His 1.063 walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) was a career best.

Even in '09, one of Fuentes' worst seasons, he earned 48 saves. The demand for him indicates that the industry still views him as quite valuable.

How valuable, we'll find out soon.

— Ken Rosenthal

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Sources: Marlins, Nolasco reach impasse in contract talks

December 18, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

The Florida Marlins and right-hander Ricky Nolasco have arrived at a stalemate in negotiations for a long-term contract, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

The impasse sets up a number of possibilities for Nolasco, who was 14-9 with a 4.51 ERA in 26 starts this year:

— The Marlins and Nolasco agree on a one-year deal

Nolasco, 28, is still in his salary-arbitration years, so the Marlins could simply allow that process to play out and retain his rights through 2012. He’s due to receive a raise on the $3.8 million he earned this year.

— The sides compromise and sign a long-term pact

There is still plenty of time for the parties to reach agreement. They have been exchanging three-year proposals, sources say.

— The Marlins trade Nolasco

Florida could deal Nolasco and still have a formidable five-man rotation: Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Javier Vazquez, Chris Volstad and Alex Sanabia, who had a 3.73 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) as a rookie this year.

Clubs have been calling the Marlins in recent days to express interest in Nolasco, sources said. While it’s not clear which teams have contacted the Marlins, it’s well-established that the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals have been active in the trade market for starting pitchers.

— Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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