According to ESPN's Buster Olney, (on Twitter) the Red Sox have signed former Chicago White Sox closer, Bobby Jenks, to a two-year $12 million dollar contract. After Jenks' relatively disappointing season, where he posted a 4.44 ERA, the White Sox decided to non-tender the reliever in November.
Bobby Jenks, a former All-Star, is one of a trip of high-profile Red Sox acquisitions this month. The Red Sox added perennial American League and National League MVP candidates, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez earlier in December, during the winter meetings.
The Red Sox have also made a number of smaller transactions this offseason. They've handed new contracts to veteran main-stays, Jason Varitek and David Ortiz, and have added a number of veteran pitchers. Earlier today it was reported that the team would re-sign former Detroit Tigers' top prospect Andrew Miller, and was preparing to sign free agent pitcher Matt Albers.
With the recent, expensive acquistions of Gonzalez, Crawford, and Jenks combined with new contracts for veterans like Jason Varitek and David Ortiz, the Red Sox may have passed the Yankees' projected 2011 payroll-- for the time being.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Yankees Sign Russell Martin
Yankees Sign Russell Martin To One Year Deal
Ryan Kelley
12/14/10
3:47pm EST
The New York Yankees are in the process of signing former All-Star catcher Russell Martin to a deal that will probably keep him in New York through 2012. This signing came only hours after the team fell short of signing their primary target this offseason, star free agent pitcher Cliff Lee. Lee’s decision to sign with the Phillies, instead, shocked much of the baseball community.
Only a couple of years ago, Martin, the Dodger’s former starting catcher, was one of the National League’s rising stars. He made the NL All-Star team in 2007 and 2008, and has won both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Marred by injury, Martin has seen a steep drop in his production these past two seasons, failing to post an OPS above .680. His defense is still premium among MLB catchers, though, and he has experience playing third base as well.
The Yankees hope that Martin can rebound from the hip injury—a hairline fracture—that depressed his 2009 production. In order for his contract to become official, Martin will have to pass a physical proving his health. With less than five years of MLB service time, Martin will be under team control through 2012.
Earlier this winter, the Dodgers offered Martin a $4.2 million dollar contract, with an additional $1.1 million in incentives. The two sides weren’t able to reach an agreement and Martin was non-tendered a couple of weeks ago.
Martin, a native of Montreal Quebec, had stated that he wanted to play for an East Coast team so that he could be closer to his home city. Naturally, the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays were also possible suitors for the 28-year-old catcher.
Ryan Kelley
12/14/10
3:47pm EST
The New York Yankees are in the process of signing former All-Star catcher Russell Martin to a deal that will probably keep him in New York through 2012. This signing came only hours after the team fell short of signing their primary target this offseason, star free agent pitcher Cliff Lee. Lee’s decision to sign with the Phillies, instead, shocked much of the baseball community.
Only a couple of years ago, Martin, the Dodger’s former starting catcher, was one of the National League’s rising stars. He made the NL All-Star team in 2007 and 2008, and has won both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Marred by injury, Martin has seen a steep drop in his production these past two seasons, failing to post an OPS above .680. His defense is still premium among MLB catchers, though, and he has experience playing third base as well.
The Yankees hope that Martin can rebound from the hip injury—a hairline fracture—that depressed his 2009 production. In order for his contract to become official, Martin will have to pass a physical proving his health. With less than five years of MLB service time, Martin will be under team control through 2012.
Earlier this winter, the Dodgers offered Martin a $4.2 million dollar contract, with an additional $1.1 million in incentives. The two sides weren’t able to reach an agreement and Martin was non-tendered a couple of weeks ago.
Martin, a native of Montreal Quebec, had stated that he wanted to play for an East Coast team so that he could be closer to his home city. Naturally, the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays were also possible suitors for the 28-year-old catcher.
The Phillies Attract a Stud: Free Agent Pitcher Cliff Lee Agrees to Contract With Philadelphia
The Phillies Attract a Stud: Free Agent Pitcher Cliff Lee Agrees to Contract With Philadelphia
Ryan Kelley
12/14/10
2:55AM
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and Jim Luttrell of the New York Times, free agent pitcher, Cliff Lee, has agreed to sign a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth between $100 and $120 million.
The ace lefthander’s decision to sign with the Phillies comes as surprise to those who followed reports made throughout this offseason. While there were murmurs that a mystery “third” team was pursuing Lee throughout the past few weeks, the two highest bidders—the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers—were considered to be the only franchises willing (and able) to sign the lefty. New York had offered Lee the two most lucrative contracts, one proposing 6 years and $138 million guaranteed (with a $16 million dollar player option), and another at 7 years and about $150 million.
Hours before Lee had made his decision to sign with Philadelphia, his agent Darek Braunecker contacted Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman to let the Yankees know that they were “going in a different direction.”
Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award Winner will join the 2010 National League Cy Young award winner, Roy Halladay along with 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, All Star Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton in the Phillies’ (projected) 2011 rotation. However, to relax some pressure on the Phillies’ weighty 2011 payroll, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. could trade Joe Blanton and insert reliever Jose Contreras into the rotation.
Ryan Kelley
12/14/10
2:55AM
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and Jim Luttrell of the New York Times, free agent pitcher, Cliff Lee, has agreed to sign a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth between $100 and $120 million.
The ace lefthander’s decision to sign with the Phillies comes as surprise to those who followed reports made throughout this offseason. While there were murmurs that a mystery “third” team was pursuing Lee throughout the past few weeks, the two highest bidders—the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers—were considered to be the only franchises willing (and able) to sign the lefty. New York had offered Lee the two most lucrative contracts, one proposing 6 years and $138 million guaranteed (with a $16 million dollar player option), and another at 7 years and about $150 million.
Hours before Lee had made his decision to sign with Philadelphia, his agent Darek Braunecker contacted Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman to let the Yankees know that they were “going in a different direction.”
Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award Winner will join the 2010 National League Cy Young award winner, Roy Halladay along with 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, All Star Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton in the Phillies’ (projected) 2011 rotation. However, to relax some pressure on the Phillies’ weighty 2011 payroll, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. could trade Joe Blanton and insert reliever Jose Contreras into the rotation.
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