MLB Capsules: Lincecum's $40.5M, two-year deal includes bonuses
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants ace Tim Lincecum's new $40.5 million, two-year deal includes a series of bonuses for winning the Cy Young and other awards. Lincecum and San Francisco reached verbal agreement on a new contract Tuesday pending a physical, which likely will happen early next week before a formal announcement is made by the club.
Lincecum, a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $18 million this year and $22 million in 2013.
He would earn an additional $500,000 for winning his third Cy Young, $250,000 for second place, $100,000 for third, $75,000 for fourth and $50,000 for fifth. If he wins the Cy Young in 2012, the bonus for winning again in 2013 would increase to $1 million.
Lincecum also would make $250,000 for being voted NL MVP, $150,000 for being the runner-up, $100,000 for third, $75,000 for fourth and $50,000 for fifth. He would receive a $100,000 bonus if picked to the All-Star game and $50,000 for a Gold Glove.
Lincecum had asked for a near-record $21.5 million in salary arbitration and had been offered $17 million by the Giants. He remains eligible for free agency following the 2013 season.
The 27-year-old right-hander, the winning pitcher in the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, earned $13.1 million last season when he finished a two-year deal worth $23.2 million.
When the sides exchanged numbers last Tuesday, Lincecum's request neared the record amount sought in arbitration. Houston pitcher Roger Clemens asked for $22 million in 2005.
San Francisco's offer was the highest in arbitration history, topping the $14.25 million the New York Yankees proposed for shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001.
Lincecum — the 10th overall draft pick out of Washington in 2006 — has been an All-Star in each of the past four seasons. He went 13-14 with a 2.74 ERA last year for his first losing record. The Giants scored no runs while he was in the game in seven of 33 starts, had one run six times and two runs five times, according to STATS LLC.
Gonzalez, Nationals make five-year deal official
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals held a news conference Wednesday at their ballpark to show off their most significant offseason acquisition and pat themselves on the back for locking him down with a big contract.
No, not Prince Fielder. Gio Gonzalez. More than a month after joining Washington in a trade from Oakland, and 1½ weeks after agreeing to a $42 million, five-year deal, Gonzalez made it official by signing on the dotted line Wednesday.
"I love the pressure situations," Gonzalez said.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the left-hander is "going to be part of the furniture for a long time."
The GM also repeatedly talked about his belief that the Nationals finally are ready to play "meaningful games in September." In 2011, Washington went 80-81 and wound up in third place, its highest NL East finish since moving from Montreal before the 2005 season.
The 26-year-old Gonzalez was an All-Star last season, when he went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 32 starts. He talked about joining a starting rotation that will be led by hard-throwing right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.
"I get to study off those guys every night," Gonzalez said.
For the past several weeks, the Nationals were connected to reports about Fielder, the free-agent first baseman who averaged 40 homers and 113 RBIs over the past five years. But word emerged Tuesday that he agreed to a contract worth more than $200 million with the Detroit Tigers.
So instead, Washington was left to celebrate Gonzalez, who Rizzo called "another building block" and a "player with high character, great makeup."
Gonzalez's contract is the largest for a pitcher eligible for arbitration for the first time. It includes both a club option for 2017, and a vesting player option for 2018, which could make it worth $65.5 million over seven seasons.
"There was mutual interest in getting a long-term deal done," said Rizzo, who sent four prospects to Oakland on Dec. 23 to get Gonzalez.
Said Gonzalez: "This was, in my opinion, a fair trade. When all is said and done, Oakland was happy with the trade, and I'm assuming the Nationals are happy."
Rockies add year and $4.25 million for Betancourt
DENVER (AP) — Rafael Betancourt has a new deal to go with his new role as Colorado's closer. The Rockies' right-handed reliever agreed Wednesday to an $8.5 million, two-year contract that guarantees him an additional $4.25 million.
The Venezuela native saved eight of nine games filling in for an injured Huston Street last August. The Rockies traded Street to San Diego in December.
Betancourt has never had a closer's job to start a season. He has 27 career saves and 141 holds for Cleveland (2003-09) and Colorado (2009-2011).
Betancourt said last week before the team's fan festival that he won't approach things any differently as a closer than when he was the Rockies' eighth-inning setup man.
"I treat it the same whether it's the seventh, eighth or ninth," Betancourt said, adding: "It's fun because now I just have to get three outs for the team to have a chance to win the game."
Last season, Betancourt went 2-0 with eight saves, 22 holds, a 2.89 ERA, 73 strikeouts and eight walks in 68 appearances for the Rockies. He held opponents to a .203 batting average, including .077 over the season's final two months, when he was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball.
Among major league relievers with at least 25 appearances after the All-Star break, Betancourt led the NL in ERA, opponents' batting average, strikeout to walk ratio, hits allowed per nine innings (2.33) and base runners allowed per nine innings (2.67).
The 36-year-old was due $4 million this year under a contract agreed to last January, a deal that included a $4.25 million mutual option for 2013 with a $250,000 buyout. Under Wednesday's new deal, this year's salary is the same, 2013 becomes guaranteed at $4.25 million and a mutual option for 2014 is added with a $250,000 buyout.
His performance bonus for this year was changed to $200,000 for 55 games finished. In 2013 and 2014, if exercised, he can earn $50,000 each for 40 and 45 games finished, $150,000 for 50, $200,000 for 55 and $250,000 for 60.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Motte, Cardinals agree at $1.95 million
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals closer Jason Motte has agreed to a $1.95 million, one-year contract after helping St. Louis win the World Series.
The 29-year-old reliever was 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA and nine saves last season, earning the closer's role in late August and getting five saves in the postseason. Motte closed out the NL championship series and the World Series.
"Being out there, getting that last out, Yaddy (Molina) looking back at me, down on his knees — it's one of those things I'll never forget," Motte said last week.
The Cardinals have no remaining arbitration-eligible players. St. Louis pitcher Kyle McClellan agreed to a one-year deal last week.
Motte made $435,000 last year. He asked for $2.4 million in arbitration and was offered $1.5 million. He can earn an additional $75,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 50, 55 and 60 games finished.
Motte had 63 strikeouts in 68 innings last season and a 1.93 ERA after the All-Star break. He appeared in 78 games, a franchise record for a right-hander.
Ziegler, Diamondbacks agree at $1,795,000
PHOENIX (AP) — Pitcher Brad Ziegler and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,795,000, a deal that avoids arbitration.
The 32-year-old right-hander made $1.25 million last season. He had asked for $1,945,000 in arbitration and had been offered $1.46 million.
He was 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 66 appearances with the Diamondbacks and Oakland last season. He came to Arizona on July 31 in a trade that sent first baseman Brandon Allen and left-handed reliever Jordan Noberto to Oakland. Ziegler had no decisions with a 1.74 ERA in 23 appearances with the Diamondbacks.
Right-handers hit .188 against Ziegler last season, seventh-best in the majors for pitchers whose opponents had at least 160 plate appearances. He and San Francisco's Javier Lopez were the only pitchers who threw at least 50 innings without allowing a home run.
Appeal pending, Braun to skip Brewers fan fest
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers says NL MVP Ryan Braun will not attend the team's fan festival this weekend because it's too "sensitive" a period for the slugger who awaits a decision of his appeal of a 50-game suspension under baseball's drug policy.
Brewers chairman and principal owner Mark Attanasio says in a statement Wednesday Braun and the team "came to the conclusion that this is too sensitive of a time in the confidential process for him to attend this year." Attanasio thanked fans for their understanding and patience. The team's "Brewers On Deck" event will be held Sunday.
Braun's appeal was heard in New York last week. He stayed in the city to accept the MVP award at a dinner Saturday but referred to the possible suspension only in passing during a speech. ESPN.com first reported in December that Braun had tested positive in October.
Reds get INF Valdez from Phillies
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds acquired infielder Wilson Valdez from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher Jeremy Horst on Wednesday, another move to add depth to their bench. The Reds also announced that they had signed utility player Willie Harris, a free agent from the Mets.
Valdez, 33, has played six seasons in the majors with the White Sox, Mariners, Padres, Dodgers, Mets and Phillies. He batted .249 last year with one homer and 30 RBIs in 99 games. The second baseman also notched the victory in a 5-4, 19-inning win over the Reds in Philadelphia on May 25, holding the Reds hitless in the final inning.
Horst, 26, reached the majors for the first time last season, making a dozen relief appearances with a 2.93 ERA.
-- Joe Kay
RH Masset gets two-year deal with Reds
CINCINNATI (AP) — Right-handed reliever Nick Masset has agreed on a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds, avoiding salary arbitration. Masset gets a base salary of $2.4 million this year and $3.1 million in 2013. The deal includes performance bonuses and an escalator for his 2013 base salary if he reaches certain goals.
Masset made $1,825,000 last season, when he went 3-6 with a 3.71 earned run average in 75 relief appearances. He asked for $2.9 million in arbitration, and the club offered $2.1 million.
The signing leaves right-hander Jose Arredondo as the final Reds player in arbitration. He's asking for $875,000, and the club has offered $725,000. Arredondo made $480,000 last season, when he went 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 53 appearances.
-- Joe Kay
AL Capsules
Fielder to start earning big bucks right away
NEW YORK (AP) — Prince Fielder will start making the big bucks right away with the Detroit Tigers. Fielder will earn $23 million in each of his first two years with Detroit, then will make $24 million annually in the final seven seasons of his $214 million, nine-year contract, according to terms obtained by The Associated Press.
That contrasts with Albert Pujols' backloaded $240 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, agreed to last month.
Pujols gets $12 million this year and $16 million in 2013, with the salary increasing to $23 million in 2014 and then rising $1 million annually.
Detroit planned to announce Fielder's deal at a news conference Thursday, a person familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Tigers have yet to confirm the contract.
Fielder would get an additional $500,000 if he's the AL MVP, $200,000 if he's second through fifth and $100,000 if he's sixth through 10th. For each MVP he wins after the first, he would get $1 million.
He also would get $100,000 if he's an All-Star starter and $50,000 if he's a reserve, or alternatively $100,000 if he's a Baseball America or Sporting News postseason All-Star. He also would receive $100,000 for a Gold Glove, $100,000 for a Silver Slugger, $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award, $150,000 for league championship series MVP and $200,000 for World Series MVP. In addition, he gets a hotel suite on the road.
Fielder made $15.7 million in his final season with the Brewers. He had a $15.5 million base salary and earned $100,000 for finishing third in NL MVP voting, $50,000 for starting the All-Star game and $50,000 for a Silver Slugger award.
This is the fourth $200 million contract in baseball history, following Alex Rodriguez's $275 million, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees, A-Rod's $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas and Pujols' agreement with the Angels.
Among current players, Fielder's $23.78 million average salary is behind only A-Rod ($27.5 million), Ryan Howard ($25 million), and Cliff Lee and Pujols ($24 million each).
-- Ronald Blum
Royals invite 16 to spring training
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have invited 16 players to spring training, including highly touted prospects Mike Montgomery and Wil Myers and veterans Kevin Kouzmanoff and Zach Miner. The team announced the invites in a statement Wednesday.
Montgomery is considered the organization's top prospect. The left-hander attended spring training last season before going 5-11 with a 5.32 ERA in 28 games with Triple-A Omaha. Myers, the franchise's best hitting prospect, batted .360 during the Arizona Fall League.
Kouzmanoff will have a chance to earn a utility job after spending last season with Colorado and Oakland, while Miner, a former Tigers pitcher, is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery.
Also invited were pitchers Francisley Bueno, Chris Dwyer, Tommy Hottovy, Will Smith and Jake Odorizzi; catchers Cody Clark, Max Ramirez and Julio Rodriguez; infielders Tony Abreu and Irving Falu; and outfielders Greg Golson and Paulo Orlando.
Red Sox, Bailey agree at $3.9 million
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox agreed to terms Wednesday with right-handed pitcher Andrew Bailey on a one-year contract worth $3.9 million. The deal avoids arbitration. Bailey, who made $465,000 last year, asked for $4.7 million; the team offered $3.35 million.
Bailey was acquired from the Oakland Athletics this winter. The 27-year-old right-hander converted 24 of 26 save opportunities with a 3.24 ERA for the A's in 2011. The Red Sox shipped outfielder Josh Reddick, infield prospect Miles Head and minor league pitcher Raul Alcantara to Oakland for the All-Star closer and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.
Bailey can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 50 and 55 games finished. Designated hitter David Ortiz and right-hander Alfredo Aceves are the only remaining Red Sox players eligible for salary arbitration.
Jones, Yankees finalize $2 million deal
NEW YORK (AP) — Andruw Jones and the Yankees have finalized a $2 million, one-year contract that keeps him in New York for a second season. The deal, agreed to last month and finalized Wednesday, allows him to earn another $1.45 million in performance bonuses.
Jones hit .247 with 13 homers and 33 RBIs in 222 plate appearances last year, providing a right-handed bat off the bench. The five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner played 39 games in left, 19 in right and 16 at designated hitter,
In addition to his base salary, Jones can earn $45,000 each for 100 and 125 plate appearances, $70,000 apiece for 150, 175, 200 and 225, $170,000 each for 250 and 275, $220,000 apiece for 300 and 325 and $300,000 for 350.
Andino, Orioles agree on $1.3 million, one-year deal
BALTIMORE (AP) — Infielder Robert Andino and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $1.3 million, one-year contract that triples his salary from $421,500.
Wednesday's agreement was at the midpoint between the $1.6 million Andino had asked for in arbitration last week and the $1 million the Orioles had offered. The 27-year-old had his best season last year, playing the majority of his career-high 139 games at second base for the injured Brian Roberts. He also played third base, shortstop and left field.
Andino set career highs with 457 at-bats, 120 hits, 63 runs, five homers and 36 RBIs. The agreement leaves three Orioles still in arbitration: center fielder Adam Jones and starting pitchers Jeremy Guthrie and Brad Bergesen.
League News
Ward suspended 50 games for amphetamine
NEW YORK (AP) — Daryle Ward, an 11-season veteran who hasn't played in the major leagues since 2008, has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned amphetamine under the minor league testing program.
Ward spent last season in the minor league systems of the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. He batted .318 with two homers and 18 RBIs in 28 games with Double-A Mobile in the Diamondbacks system. He currently is a free agent.
The 36-year-old has a .263 career average with 90 homers and 379 RBIs for Houston (1998-02), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2003), Pittsburgh (2004-05), Washington (2006), Atlanta (2006) and the Chicago Cubs (2007-08).
In addition, free-agent left-hander Dustin Richardson was suspended 50 games for testing positive for several substances.
Each penalty will start when the player signs with a big league organization.
International
Cespedes can negotiate with big league teams
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has told teams that Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is eligible to negotiate with big league teams.
The commissioner's office notified clubs on Wednesday, a day after Cespedes established legal residency in the Dominican Republic. His agent, Edgar Mercedes, confirmed the residency in a telephone interview Tuesday.
MLB said Cespedes cannot finalize a contract until he obtains an unblocking license from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control because he is a Cuban national who has established residency in another country.
Earlier this month, Cespedes said six major league teams — the Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs and White Sox — are interested in him.
