MLB - NEWS & NOTES

Choosing between Albert and JD is tough. I seen a lot more of JD and i went with him over Albert and several others. I believe JD is the real deal and has only broken out... hence he is younger and probably not as injury prone as Albert and should still put up some nasty numbers.

We have yet to see what JD can do. Albert's heyday's might be behind him, i dont know.

Would like to hear from MUTigers or someone else on this matter.

 

wish i could do that. haha. Boss- can I have a $2 mill dollar raise? I'm lucky to get 3%. haha.

 

everyone is in hibernation Will except you and me. to me we can keep guys for 3 years. so i had JD for 2 more. as an outfielder with 38 hrs and a good avg and rbis is harder to find over a hr hitting 1b. i am also keeping cano, seager at 3b and david price and c. kimbrel too. i am tossing back b. crawford and his 21 hrs at SS which could be a mistake as SS are hard to come by with power. We use 4 outfielders in fantasy so to have 1 locked in on draft day would be nice to have etc.

 

Hoover beats Reds in arbitration, improving players to 2-0

PHOENIX (AP) ? Reliever J.J. Hoover has won his salary arbitration case against the Cincinnati Reds, improving players to 2-0 against teams this year.

Hoover was given a raise from $535,000 to $1.4 million Friday by arbitrators James Oldham, Dan Brent and Sylvia Skratek, who heard the case a day earlier. The team had argued for $1,225,000.

Cincinnati had not gone to salary arbitration with a player since beating pitcher Chris Reitsma in 2004. The Reds had not lost since their hearing against first baseman Sean Casey in 2001.

A 28-year-old right-hander, Hoover was 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA, winning his first seven decisions. As a setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman, he gave up 44 hits and 31 walks in 64 1-3 innings while striking out 52. He allowed three of 12 inherited runners to score and had a streak of 30 games in which he did not give up an earned run.

Hoover is a candidate to take over as closer this season after Chapman's trade to the New York Yankees.

Tampa Bay pitcher Drew Smyly won the first decision of the year Thursday and will have a $3.75 million salary rather than $3.2 million.

 

[video]https://youtu.be/K4XcKPdFREM[/video]

 

[video]https://youtu.be/hAmfR16wZDw[/video]

 

APNewsBreak: Arrieta, Cubs agree at $10.7M, AP source says

CHICAGO (AP) ? Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs found a number that worked in the canyon between their arbitration proposals.

Arrieta has agreed to a $10.7 million, one-year contract for the highest one-year deal for a pitcher eligible for arbitration for the second time.

A person familiar with the negotiations disclosed the agreement on Friday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced by the team.

Arrieta, who turns 30 in March, had a breakout season last year, helping the Cubs to an NL wild card. The NL Cy Young Award winner finished with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA, easily cruising past most of his previous career highs.

The right-hander was rewarded with a $7.07 million raise. His deal tops David Price's salary of $10,112,500 with Tampa Bay in 2013.

The settlement was $450,000 above the midpoint of the arbitration numbers exchanged by the sides on Jan. 15. Arrieta asked for $13 million and the team had offered $7.5 million.

Arrieta and the Cubs had the largest gap among players who swapped figures with their clubs on Jan. 15, but president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said last month he was confident the sides would reach an agreement before a hearing.

"I think, you know, in this case, if you focus on the spread, you're kind of missing the story, which is that I think it provides a lot of room for further discussion," he said at the team's winter convention.

The Cubs' July 2013 trade for Arrieta was a key moment in their move from the bottom of the NL Central to 97 wins last season and a spot in the NL Championship Series, where they were swept by the New York Mets.

Chicago traded pitcher Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger to Baltimore for Arrieta and reliever Pedro Strop. Arrieta went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in his first full season with the Cubs, and then was dominant for much of last year.

Arrieta, who made $3.63 million in 2015, is 56-38 with a 3.70 ERA in 136 career games.
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Dammmmmmmmmmmm... robbed the bank.

 

Jesse Chavez beats Blue Jays in arbitration, awarded $4M

PHOENIX (AP) ? Pitcher Jesse Chavez defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in salary arbitration, improving players to 3-0 this year in cases that went to hearings.

Chavez was awarded a $4 million salary on Saturday by arbitrators Mark Irvings, Steven Wolf and Edna Francis, who heard the case a day earlier. The Blue Jays argued the 32-year-old right-hander should be paid $3.6 million.

Tampa Bay pitcher Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati reliever J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million) won the first two decisions earlier this week.

Chavez was 7-15 with a 4.18 ERA and one save in a career-high 26 starts and four relief appearances last season for Oakland, which traded him to Toronto on Nov. 20 for right-hander Liam Hendriks. He received two runs of support or fewer in 17 starts.

Chavez started the season in the bullpen and moved into the rotation April 23. He season ended when the Athletics put him on the disabled list Sept. 15 because of a broken rib.

Over eight big league seasons, Chavez is 24-38 with a 4.55 ERA with Pittsburgh (2008-09), Atlanta (2010), Kansas City (2010-11), Toronto (2012) and Oakland (2013-15).

He earned $2.15 million last season and can become a free agent after this year's World Series.

Toronto has one player remaining in arbitration: AL MVP Josh Donaldson. He has asked for a raise from $4.3 million to $11.8 million and has been offered $11.3 million.
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These 'joe average' pitchers getting these ridiculous raises and contracts isnt right in my book. --- Get a job!!! ---

 

7-15 with a 4.18 ERA equals a $4 mil raise? I need his agent! Gadzooks man that is pathetic. Good for him, bad for MLB.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/yulieski-gurriel-lourdes-gurriel-defect-cuba.html

This is pretty big news, wonder if they'll be able to sign in time to play on Opening Day.

Lazarito is also able to sign Wednesday, rumors are he will wait until summer though.

 

J.D. Martinez, Tigers reach $18.5M, 2-year deal

DETROIT (AP) ? J.D. Martinez has agreed to an $18.5 million, two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke Monday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. The 28-year-old Martinez was eligible for arbitration through next year and can become a free agent after the 2017 World Series.

When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month, Martinez had asked for a raise from $3 million to $8 million for this season and had been offered $6 million.

He batted .282 with 38 home runs and 102 RBIs last season. He hit 23 homers in 2014 after he was released by Houston during spring training and the Tigers signed him.

 

Clippard, Diamondbacks agree to $12.25M, 2-year contract

PHOENIX (AP) ? Reliever Tyler Clippard agreed Monday to a $12.25 million, two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who also settled their arbitration case with A.J. Pollock by giving the All-Star outfielder a $10.25 million, two-year deal.

Clippard, a right-hander who turns 31 on Sunday, adds a late-game option for the Diamondbacks, who expect to be a contender after boosting their rotation by signing Zack Greinke and acquiring Shelby Miller in a trade with Atlanta.

Clippard was 5-4 with a 2.92 ERA last year with the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets, holding batters to a .186 average, 10th-best in the majors. He was even better with runners in scoring position at .133.

He spent most of his nine-year major league career as setup man for the Washington Nationals and could fill the same role behind Arizona closer Brad Ziegler. Right-hander Daniel Hudson and left-hander Andrew Chafin are the other late-game options for Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale.

 

wow Houston must be kicking themselves over cutting him? i didn't know that. heck of a player to be released...

 

wow - always leery of these stats in other leagues. some of these guys in the past crapped out fast. some did ok and a select few did well. they all get insane money so i am leery of giving it to a 31 yr old.

 

The Cubans are on the old side, I agree......I don't know what they expect to get paid.....It's not like they are in the prime of their career........

 

and who are they playing against for these stats? over .530+ is really silly.

 

Donaldson, Blue Jays nearing $28.65M, 2-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) ? AL MVP Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays are nearing agreement on a $28.65 million, two-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Tuesday because the agreement had not been completed. The progress toward a deal was first reported by Sportsnet in Canada.

Donaldson and the Blue Jays had been scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing next week. The 30-year-old third baseman had asked for a raise from $4.3 million to $11.8 million and Toronto had offered $11.35 million when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month.

Acquired from Oakland in November 2014, Donaldson made the AL All-Star team for the second straight season in 2015. He led the majors with 122 runs, topped the AL with 123 RBIs, and hit .297 with 41 home runs to help the Blue Jays reach the playoffs for the first time since winning consecutive World Series in 1992 and '93.

He is eligible for free agency after the 2018 World Series.

 

good calmer heads prevailed considering they were battling over chump change in arbitration.

 

Astros beat Castro in arbitration, catcher gets $5 million

PHOENIX (AP) ? Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro became the first player to lose in salary arbitration this year.

Castro was awarded $5 million on Tuesday by arbitrators Matt Goldberg, Gary Kendellen and James Oldham , who heard arguments a day earlier. Castro had asked for a raise from $4 million to $5.25 million.

The 28-year-old was an All-Star in 2013. He hit .211 last season, his lowest average since his rookie season in 2010, and had 11 homers and 31 RBIs. He made 102 starts at catcher and threw out 36 percent (24 of 66) of runners attempting to steal.

Castro started all six of Houston's postseason games and hit .063 (1 for 16).

Players are 3-1 in arbitration this year. The pitchers won their hearings: Toronto's Jesse Chavez ($4 million), Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati's J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million).

 

RHP Mat Latos agrees to $3M, 1-year deal with White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) ? Mat Latos agreed Tuesday to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, giving manager Robin Ventura another option for the back end of his rotation.

Latos had consecutive 14-win seasons with Cincinnati in 2012 and 2013, but the 6-foot-6 right-hander hasn't been able to duplicate that success in recent years. He played for the Marlins, Dodgers and Angels last season, finishing with a 4-10 record and a 4.95 ERA.

His fastball velocity dipped to 92-93 mph for most of last season, down from 93-96 in 2012. He was on the disabled list from May 23 to June 12 with left knee inflammation.

"Mat adds another quality veteran arm to our rotation and also increases our overall pitching depth, which always is essential to having a successful season," general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement.

"While we believe in the futures of several of our young starters, the chance to add a pitcher of Mat's caliber was too good of an opportunity for us to pass up. He has proven over his career that when healthy, he takes the baseball and logs quality innings."

Latos also has faced questions about his maturity. He was traded from Cincinnati to Miami in December 2014, then made critical remarks about the Reds training staff and said there was a lack of leadership in the clubhouse while he was there ? an assertion the Reds disputed.