Choo Gets the Latest Bad Contract

No matter how much baseball owners moan and groan, their brethren continue to give out bad contracts. Robinson Cano's 10-year, $240MM deal, Jacoby Ellsbury's seven-year, $153MM contract and reportedly Shin-Soo Choo's seven-year, $130MM agreement with the Texas Rangers.  The native of South Korea will join his fourth organization after stints in Seattle, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

Choo reportedly turned down a seven-year, $140MM offer from the Yankees, but still cashed in for plenty of greenbacks Saturday according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Agent Scott Boras had characterized Choo as an "On-base machine" as he pushed for his client to get a big money deal.

The contract would pay Choo an annual average salary in excess of $18MM and therein lies the problem. Choo is a very good player, but he's not an upper echelon player, just as Ellsbury (on a consistent basis) is not. Playing his home games in 2013 at Cincy's hitter friendly Great American Ballpark, Choo had an .885 OPS with 21 home runs, 34 doubles,  20 stolen bases, 112 walks and 107 runs scored as the primary lead off hitter in the Reds lineup.

The base on balls were a career high and the first time he surpassed the century mark in a single season. He also led the National League with 26 hit by pitches. Choo was a regular center fielder for the time in his career last season, but he'll likely man a corner spot in 2014 with Texas.

Beltran to Be Introduced Friday Thanks to a No Thank Choo

Jessica Beltran tweeted this picture on Wednesday of herself, husband Carlos, and children Ivana (standing) and Kiara back in the Big Apple.

Carlos Beltran will be introduced to the media at 11 a.m. Friday morning after he and the Yankees officially put their signatures on the dotted line of a three-year deal worth $45MM.

The press conference comes on the heels of news that prior to agreeing to terms with Beltran two weeks ago, the Yankees had offered Shin-Soo Choo a seven-year, $140MM deal. Thankfully, Choo said no. It would have been a much worse deal than the seven-year overpayment that the Yankees gave to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Someone really needs to show the Yankees how to negotiate.  The style of "hmm, they offered five years and $75MM..tell you what -your name here - we'll give you seven years for $140MM", does not really work out in the long run.

Scott Boras has been peddling Choo as an on-base machine to try and substantiate a $20MM per year contract. Choo reached base at a career high 42.3% last year in addition to hitting 21 home runs and drew 112 walks. (His previous high in base on balls was 83). Not that it's a true marker of ability or performance, while Ellsbury has made just one All-Star team, Choo has never been voted or selected to the July classic. Choo is a very good player, but he's not a great player.

So rebuked by Choo, the Yankees powered full steam ahead to wrap up Beltran, who had spent 6 1/2 seasons in New York as a member of the Mets. Beltran took to Twitter back on December 10 to announce that he would wear #36 as a Yankee. It's the number he started his career with in 1998-1999 with the Kansas City Royals. Beltran wore 15 for much of his career and donned the #3 with St. Louis the last two seasons. With both numbers retired in the Bronx, he decided to go back to his numerical roots.

Despite playing on creeky knees last year, Beltran still hit .296/.339/.491 with 24 HR, 84 RBI, and 79 runs scored. The days of stolen bases are over for the player who averaged 37 swipes a year from 2001-2004, but he'll cut down on the Yankees strikeouts per game quite considerably. He fanned just 90 times last year in 600 plate appearances.

Feinsand: Ellsbury and Yankees Agree to 7 Year-$153MM Deal

I tried to keep my head from spinning after I heard CBS Sports' Jon Heyman report that the Yankees and free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury were close to a seven year deal. Now comes word from the NY Daily News' Mark Feinsand that it's a done deal worth $153MM pending a physical on Wednesday. Perhaps it's a leaked rumor to get Robinson Cano into a panic mode since he and the Yankees are still well apart in negotiations or the Yankees are simply moving on.

Ellsbury is a very good player..when healthy. He missed all but 18 games in 2010, was limited to 74 games in 2012 and missed 28 games this past season. He was an AL MVP candidate in 2011 when he hit 32 home runs, drove in 105 runs, scored 119, stole 39 bases, put up a .928 OPS, and had a league high 364 total bases.

The 30-yr old has led the league in steals three times including this past season when he swiped 52 in 56 attempts. With Alfonso Soriano set to play left field, this could spell the end of Brett Gardner's days in pinstripes or a possible demotion to the fourth outfield position.

According to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, Ellsbury's deal includes an eighth year option with a buyout that could bring the total to $169MM. There will be a $21.86 hit on the luxury tax. Passan still feels the Yankees can still get Cano on board as well if he lowers his demands. The Yankees are reportedly still pursuing Shin-Soo Choo and are out of the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes.

Things just got a whole lot crazier.

Update 10 pm: Getting more torqued thinking about this deal. The Yankees supposedly won't budge off the $160MM, 7 years they've offered Cano, yet they are willing to give a very good, but not great player almost the equal amount.

I don't want to hear about Cano not busting it down to first base, he's a superior player to Ellsbury with the bat and with the glove. He's also played at least 159 games in the last six seasons.

Swisher Changes Tribes

For most of the period (2009-2012) that Nick Swisher was in New York, the flamboyant outfielder was extremely popular with fans. His regular season numbers helped the Yankees to the post-season in each of his four seasons and as a right fielder he bonded with the Bleacher Creatures.  But Swisher struggled each post-season, including this last post-season, when many of the fans took out their frustration on Swisher and others. It will be interesting to see the reaction (likely positive) when Swisher returns in 2013 as a member of the Cleveland Indians.

The nine year veteran agreed to a four-year, $56MM deal on Sunday to play the outfield for the Indians through 2016. For Swisher, it's a homecoming of sorts, since he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college. He'll replace Shin-Soo Choo who was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds earlier this month.

Swisher will play for manager Terry Francona, who was named to replaced Manny Acta, after one year of working in the ESPN Sunday night baseball broadcast booth. Swisher averaged 26 HRs and 87 RBI in his four seasons in New York and was excellent at working the count. He topped 90 walks twice and compiled an .850 OPS. But Swisher hit just .161 in 36 career post-season games, with four home runs and eight RBI.

BD Hot Stove: A Jones For Andruw | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: A Jones For Andruw | Baseball Digest

Andruw Jones burst on to the scene for the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series, slugging a pair of home runs in game 1 against the Yankees. He was a mere 20 years old at the time. 15 years later, Jones is looking for a job, but is clearly not the player he once was.

Older, slower, out of a shape, and a bad back…they all contributed to a less than stellar handful of seasons (2008-2010) for the five time All-Star. Even in his last very productive season (2007), when he hit 26 home runs and drove in 94 runs, Jones hit just .222 and struck out 138 times. The drop off in offensive production was dramatic after averaging 46 home runs and 128 RBI the previous two seasons. Jones also won the last of his 10 Gold Gloves in 2007.

With the White Sox last season Jones did show some pop-19 home runs- and drove in 48 runs in 278 at-bats. Despite hitting just .230, he put up a .341 OPS due to 45 walks. The combination is what has some teams still showing interest in the native of Curacao. The Yankees, looking to fill the void left by Marcus Thames and Austin Kearns, are said to be the front-runner for Jones’ services and, in fact, some sources say a contract is imminent. The Yankees would give him outfield time as well as occassional DH duty when the regular DH Jorge Posada gets a day off.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

A once promising career has apparently come to a close. Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche has decided to retire due to lingering shoulder issues. The 32-yr old, who would have made $12M this season, said he would have to have another shoulder surgery to even think about being a starting pitcher again. The Royals released the following statement:

“After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life I have decided to retire from baseball. As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I’ve ever faced, but it’s not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore. I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract. I can’t thank the Kansas City Royals and their fans enough for my four seasons there and if I have any regret, it’s that we weren’t able to accomplish on the field what the goal was when I signed there.”

The Diamondbacks and shortstop Stephen Drew have agreed on a two year, $13.75M contract with a mutual option for 2013.

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are still looking at Freddy Garcia and Kevin Millwood for the number five spot in the rotation and a veteran presence in place of Andy Pettitte.

The Mets are reportedly close to a minor league deal with Scott Hairston.

Newly acquired Rajai Davis has agreed to a two year, $5.25M deal with the Blue Jays. Toronto has added a club option for 2013.

The Dodgers reached an agreement with Marcus Thames on a one year deal. LA is also close to signing Gabe Kapler to a minor league deal.

Several players have avoided arbitration with new contracts (all are for one year): Prince Fielder (MIL, $15.5M), Shin-Soo Choo (CLE, $3.975M), Ryan Ludwick (SD, $6.775M), Heath Bell (SD, $7.5M), Dallas Braden (OAK, $3.35M), Conor Jackson (OAK, $3.32M), Brandon Morrow (TOR, $2.3M), Shawn Camp (TOR, $2.25M), Yunel Escobar (TOR, $2.9M), Manny Parra (MIL, und.), Mike Pelfrey (NYM, $3.925M), Rafael Perez (CLE, $1.33M), Chris Perez (CLE, $2.25M), Felix Pie (BAL, $985K), Armando Galarraga (DET, $2.3M), Anibal Sanchez (FLA, $3.7M), Clay Hensley (FLA, $1.4M), Mike Morse (WAS, und.), Jeff Keppinger (HOU, $2.3M), Clint Barmes (HOU, $3.925M), Tony Pena (CHW, $1.6M), Felipe Paulino (COL, $79OK), Kyle Davies (KC, $3.2M)

Vazquez Has a Grandy Time in Cleveland

No one is saying they want to see Javier Vazquez in a crucial playoff game, but the just turned 36-yr old has stuck it to many of the nay-sayers he booed him mercilessly at the start of the season. Monday night Vazquez limited the Indians to two runs and five hits over seven innings and got a boost from a late Curtis Granderson home run for a 3-2 Yankees win.

Vazquez has allowed three earned runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts and has gone 6-2 over that time frame. Last night he gave up a solo home run to Travis Hafner in the 2nd inning and fell behind 2-1 when he surrendered an RBI double in the 5th to Shin-Soo Choo.

But Granderson bailed him out when he drilled a Jake Westbrook delivery into the right field seats with a man aboard for a 3-2 Yankees lead in the 8th. Joe Girardi allowed Vazquez, who had thrown 92 pitches to that point, to start the bottom of the 8th, but quickly pulled him when he walked the lead off hitter. David Robertson got Asdrubel Cabrera to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play before Boone Logan came on to strike out Choo for the final out of the inning. Mariano Rivera earned his 21st save with a scoreless 9th inning.

The Yankees had managed just two hits off of Westbrook through the first seven innings, though one of them was a Nick Swisher solo home run. Posada led off the 8th with a single through the left side to set the stage for Granderson, who has now hit three home runs in the last two games.

Notes

After hitting .240 in the first half of the season, Granderson is hitting at a .306 clip since the All-Star break. He also has a .958 OPS in his last 10 games.

CC Sabathia makes his 2nd start against his old team tonight. He'll face 25-yr old right-hander Josh Tomlin, who is making his major league debut.

Alex Rodriguez will go for his 600th home run tonight on his 35th birthday.

A Mark in the Park

Sunday was a great day for the first trip to Yankee Stadium this year (notice I didn't call it the 'new' Yankee Stadium). Good game, at least the last three innings anyway. Perfect weather, good crowd, etc.

For years, we've always parked in the River Ave. garage. That was until last year when we were informed it was for season ticket holders only, much as the garage that was beyond THE Yankee Stadium. Things changed this year though and it's back to being an open lot. A $23 open lot.

"Sir, any money you take out of your wallet will be considered a tip"

Needless to say I forgot that you don't pay as you enter any more. That's a direct quote from the parking lot attendant. You get a ticket, which at some point you insert into a machine in the lot to pay. I also forgot that last year we went to the museum after the game so there weren't many people left in the lot. Ugh. A half-hour to exit the lot this year. Very poor system that has been set up by Kinney or whomever owns the lots now.

Seats were section 420c, upper tier, a little to the left of home plate. Very good viewing.

As for the game itself, great game by A.J. Burnett. It really helped out the bullpen with an eight inning stint. He nearly came out on the short end though as the Yankees bats were silenced by Justin Masterson, who entered the game without a win. There weren't many good at bats leading up to the 7th, when the Yankees finally broke through.

Derek Jeter, whose error led to two insurance runs for a 3-0 hole, singled in a pair to cut the deficit to one.

Curtis Granderson doubled off lefty reliever Tony Sipp. That brought up Mark Teixeira, who has been swinging the bat better of late, but still not coming up with hits in clutch situations.

Let's go back to Saturday's game for a moment. Paul O'Neill, doing color commentary for YES, talk about Tex's struggles. O'Neill talked about how you tend to press. Before you know it, you're down 0-2 and you press even more. Back to Sunday.

Tex quickly fell behind 0-2 and O'Neill's words echoed in my head. But Tex worked the count back to 2-2 and then crushed a pitch deep to left for a go-ahead 3-run home run. The 250th career home run of Tex's career.

The Yankees added two more insurance runs in the 8th and then it was an easy 1-2-3 9th for Mariano Rivera, though he nearly didn't come out of it unscathed. Mo broke yet another bat, but this time the bat tried to get revenge. Luis Valbuena hit a comebacker and his broken bat was neck and neck with the ball. Basically in one motion Mo hopped over the bat and knocked the ball down with his glove. Calmly picked the ball up and threw to first to end the game. There's no one better.

Oh, one final note. The people who make up the nachos (this is just from witnessing, not eating them) - the food should look better going in then coming out. That is all.

Japan Bounces US from WBC

Derek Jeter is headed to Tampa, Yankees fans. Jeter and the US squad got thumped by Japan last night, 9-4, ending their run at a WBC title. Japan will take on Korea in tonight's championship game.

US starter Roy Oswalt got smacked around in a 5-run fourth inning. Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima and shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima each drove in two runs in the game.

Brian Roberts homered for the US and Jimmy Rollins went 4-4.

Defending champion Korea reached the finals on Saturday with a 10-2 rout of Venezuela. Indians' outfielder Shin-Soo Choo belted a 3-run home run off of the Mariners Carlos Silva as Korea scored seven runs in the first two innings.