For Baseball Hot Corner’s articles to be recognized by Google, they put a requirement on all blogs that each post/article should be 300 words or more. That’s usually not a problem for major breaking trades or free agent signing news. But sometimes, there are trades and signings that do happen that are interesting, but might not need the requisite 300 word analysis. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t go unnoticed, which is why Baseball Hot Corner is proud to provide you with: Roster Moves Worth Reporting But Aren’t Worth The 300 Words.
If you missed last week’s install, click on the link here (Click Here – http://baseballhotcorner.com/roster-moves-worth-reporting-arent-worth-300-words-vol-7/).
Continuing from the last few weeks, we are going to be seeing a lot of salary arbitration eligible players avoiding the arbitration process and agreeing to contracts with their current teams. As the weeks goes on and more and more signings are being reported, we will do our best to highlight them as much as possible, but will also use our own judgement in determining which signings will have a meaningful impact on a team and are worth reporting.
Monday, February 2, 2015:
There were a couple of promising young first basemen who avoided salary arbitration with their teams this Monday.
The New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with first baseman Lucas Duda and avoided an arbitration battle. Duda had a career year, hitting .253/.349/.481 triple-slash with 74 R’s, 130 H’s, 27 2B’s, 30 HR’s, 92 RBI’s, 69 BB’s, 135 SO’s, and an .830 OPS in 514 at-bats. This was the first season in which Duda saw 500+ AB’s in a season, partly helped by a mid-season trade of fellow first bast platoon mate Ike Davis. Once Davis was out of the picture and Duda was installed as the full-time starting first baseman, Duda began to flourish, seeing a huge spike in his power numbers. The Mets will look to Duda to build off those power numbers as they make a run for contention in 2015.
The San Francisco Giants have avoided a meeting with the arbiter and agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with first baseman Brandon Belt. Dubbed with the lovable nickname, Baby Giraffe, Belt was expected to have a breakout 2014 season after a strong 2013 season, but he missed most of the second half of the season with concession symptoms after being hit in the face with a baseball during batting practice. He was however able to come back just in time for the Giants magical postseason run in which they claimed their thirst World Series title in five year. On the 2014 season, Belt batted .243/.306/.449 triple-slash with 30 R’s, 52 H’s, 8 2B’s, 12 HR’s, 27 RBI’s, 18 BB’s, 64 SO’s, and an .755 OPS in 214 at-bats. The Giants and their fans (two thumbs pointing at this writer) have such high hopes for Belt and patiently wait for him to have have breakout season and live up to his potential.
Briefly in the “Some guys just won’t go away” section of this article, there were a few veteran players who agreed to minor league contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Those veterans are: catcher Gerald Laird (signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks), reliever John Axford (signed with the Colorado Rockies), and catcher Wil Nieves (signed with the San Diego Padres). Laird and Nieves should compete for the backup catcher spots with their new clubs, and Axford will try to reinvent himself with the Rockies and try to regain any semblance of the guy who once saved 49 games in 2011.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015:
The Kansas City Royals and starting third baseman Mike Moustakas have avoided the salary arbitration battle and agreed to a one-year, $2.64 million contract. The once highly-regarded prospect had a disappointing 2014 regular season, batting for a .212/.271/.361 triple-slash with 45 R’s, 97 H’s, 21 2B’s, 15 HR’s, 54 RBI’s, 35 BB’s, 74 SO’s, and an .632 OPS in 457 at-bats. However, Moustakas finally had his coming out party in the 2014 postseason, where he belted 5 HR’s, played stellar defense, and came 90-feet away from an inside-the-park home run that would have tied Game 7 of the World Series for the Royals. If only he would have ran through the third base coaches “stop” sign might history have been changed. I guess we’ll never know.
The Rockies have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick. The 30-year old right-hander spent the 2014 season with the only club he’s ever known, the Philadelphia Phillies. On the season, Kendrick pitched a 10-13 W-L with a 4.61 ERA, 214 H’s, 25 HR’s, 57 BB’s, 121 SO’s, and a 1.362 WHIP in 199.0 IP’s. I know the Rockies want to add depth to their starting rotation, but I’m just not sure how wise of a move it is to sign a pitcher who gave up 25 HR’s in a season and have him pitch half of his games at 5,130 feet elevation.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Steve Lombardozzi from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cold-hard cash; well not straight cash, cash considerations. I just like this because I like to say, Lombardozzi.
The Orioles didn’t stop there with that dozzi (See what I did there? Pun intended!!) of a trade, they also avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, agreeing to a one-year, $3.275 million contract. The 30-year old righy pitched fairly well in 2014, accumulating a 10-9 W-L with a 3.23 ERA, 155 H’s, 25 HR’s, 51 BB’s, 111 SO’s, and a 1.296 WHIP in 159.0 IP’s. Gonzalez will look to build off his strong 2014 campaign.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015:
The Texas Rangers have signed veteran outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. If Ludwick makes the big league roster out of Spring Training, Ludwick could earn $1.75 million. The 36-year old righty spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds, batting a .244/.308/.375 triple-slash with 28 R’s, 87 H’s, 20 2B’s, 9 HR’s, 45 RBI’s, 31 BB’s, 94 SO’s, and an .683 OPS in 357 at-bats. The Rangers have a lot of youth in their outfield, so the veteran presence of Ludwick could be very beneficial to them, even if its just for a short stint in Spring Training.
The Orioles have been busy this week, as they have avoided salary arbitration with yet another one of their players, this time being closer Zach Britton. Britton and the Orioles agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. The 27-year old lefty took over the closer job for the Orioles after last year’s closer to start the season Tommy Hunter went down with an elbow injury early in the 2014 season. Once in the closer role, Britton was lights-out, pitching a 3-2 W-L with a 1.65 ERA, 37 SV’s, 46 H’s, 4 HR’s, 23 BB’s, 62 SO’s, and a 0.904 WHIP in 76.1 IP’s. A converted starter-to-closer, Britton quickly established himself as one of the American League’s most dominate closers with his performance last season and the Orioles are looking for him to continue that dominance.
Thursday, February 5, 2015:
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Friday, February 6, 2015:
The Royals and starting pitcher Danny Duffy have come to terms on a one-year, $2.425 million contract to avoid going to salary arbitration. The left-handed Duffy pitched well in 2014, his first full season as a starter since coming back from Tommy John surgery. Last season, Duffy went 9-12 W-L with a 2.53 ERA, 113 H’s, 12 HR’s, 53 BB’s, 113 SO’s, and a 1.112 WHIP in 149.1 IP’s. They Royals will look to Duffy to build off his 2014 season and hope for an even better 2015, as they will need him to help pickup some of a pitching load being left by impending free agent James Shields.
In more “Some guys just won’t go away” news, the Rangers continue to add to their outfield depth by signing Nate Schierholtz on a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Nate, I will never forget 2010 and what you did for the Giants, but after going .195/.243/.309 in 2014, might be time to call it the day and become a minor league instructor.
Saturday, February 7, 2015:
The Pirates have won their salary arbitration case against second baseman Neil Walker. Walker had filed for $9 million as opposed to the Pirates $8 million offer. The 29-year old righty went .271/.342/.467 triple-slash with 74 R’s, 139 H’s, 25 2B’s, 23 HR’s, 76 RBI’s, 45 BB’s, 88 SO’s, and an .809 OPS in 512 at-bats. Probably one of the more underrated second baseman in MLB, my question is this actually went all the way through salary arbitration? These two sides got to within $1 million of each other and couldn’t come to an agreement and like split the different or something?
Sunday, February 8, 2015:
The Reds and third baseman Todd Frazier avoided a meeting with the salary arbiter and agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract. Frazier exploded in 2014, going .273/.336/.459 triple-slash with 88 R’s, 163 H’s, 22 2B’s, 29 HR’s, 80 RBI’s, 20 SB’s, 52 BB’s, 139 SO’s, and an .795 OPS in 597 at-bats. I’m not quite sure how you build off a season where you go 20/20 HR’s and SB’s, especially as a third baseman, but I like Frazier’s game a lot and I’m sure the Reds do as well. Keep doing what you are doing in 2015, Frazier.
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