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The Detroit Tigers are just days removed from bolstering their outfield with the signing of Justin Upton, but more could already be in the works.
Outfielder J.D. Martinez told Chris Iott of MLive.com that he and the team are discussing a long-term extension. "It's definitely something we're still talking about," Martinez said. "It's something I think both sides are still interested in. We haven't come to something where we both feel comfortable yet." "I would love to be a Tiger for life." Martinez, 28, would not become a free agent until after the 2017 season. He is arbitration eligible this winter. The Tigers and Martinez filed for the process last week, with Detroit filing at $6 million and Martinez filing at $8 million. The Tigers are not a file and trial team, so an agreement between the two sides for 2016 could come before a hearing in February. A long-term agreement could also come during that time. Martinez established himself as a cornerstone in the Tigers' lineup this past season, hitting .282/.344/.535 with 38 home runs and 102 RBIs in 657 plate appearances. He was named to the American League All-Star team and was worth 5.0 fWAR. A former 20th round pick by the Astros, Martinez was never thought of a big league star until 2014. Houston actually released the outfielder after three below-average offensive seasons with the club. When picked up by the Tigers, though, Martinez shined. As for details on a possible extension between the two sides, Martinez could look at Alex Gordon's and Adam Jones' past extensions, each coming while those players were between four- and five-years of service times. Gordon signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Royals ($12.5 million per year) and Jones signed a six-year, $85.5 million deal with the Orioles ($14.25 million per year). The total guarantee of a future Martinez contract will go up the more free agent years he decides to surrender. --Devan Fink
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The Washington Nationals are pursuing free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes in free agency, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Wednesday evening.
Rosenthal reported that the Mets and White Sox remain interested in Cespedes, but only at a three-year deal. The Nationals, who made runs at Jason Heyward and Justin Upton, "possibly could land Cespedes with a longer deal," writes Rosenthal. It is not exactly easy to picture where the Nationals could fit Cespedes in their outfield. With Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, and Ben Revere, Washington's outfield is quite full. The Nationals could decide to trade one of the outfielders, but after acquiring Revere just recently, Werth appears to be the only option that could be dealt. And even he could cause issues. Werth still has $42 million remaining on his contract and has a no-trade clause. Could the Nationals add Cespedes without a trade? Washington could consider playing either Cespedes or Harper in center field and platooning Werth and Revere in one of the corners, most likely left. Revere could also fill in at the other outfield spots to give either Harper or Cespedes a day off. Joining Daniel Murphy, the 30-year-old Cespedes would be the second Met to come over to play for the Nationals this offseason. Cespedes would be quite an addition for the team, hitting .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs and 105 RBIs in 676 plate appearances last season. He was worth 6.7 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement. --Devan Fink ![]()
The New York Mets have agreed to sign left-handed relief pitcher Antonio Bastardo, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported.
According to Robert Murray of Baseball Essential, the deal is a two-year pact worth $12 million. Bastardo's average annual value of $6 million per season makes him one of the more pricey free agent relievers, putting him near Mark Lowe ($6.5 million AAV; two years) and Tony Sipp ($6 million AAV; three years). For the Mets, Bastardo adds to an already-solid bullpen as the team hopes to recapture the National League East division title in 2016. Along with closer Jeurys Familia, the Mets boast a bullpen that includes Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins, Carlos Torres, Hansel Robles, and Sean Gilmartin. As a unit, the bullpen had the 11th-best ERA in the Majors (3.48) and was worth 3.6 FanGraphs WIns Above Replacment (fWAR), good for 13th. The 30-year-old Bastardo has spent most of his career pitching in the National League East. He spent parts of six seasons with the Phillies before moving on to the Pirates in 2015. Bastardo posted a 2.98 ERA and a 64 to 26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 57 1/3 innings pitched with Pittsburgh this past year. For the reliever, $6 million a season definitely seems like a lot from New York. Though, per Murray's report, that may have been the going rate for Bastardo, as the Pirates offered him a two-year, $8 million deal that he ultimately rejected. Relief pitching has struck gold this offseason, as teams try to emulate what the Royals did in Kansas City with their bullpen. Only one relief pitcher on the free agent market had more than 25 saves last year (that was Greg Holland, who will miss 2016 with Tommy John surgery). Despite this, figures of $15 million or more were given to five relievers and five others, including Bastardo, made $10 million or more. It's been a relief pitcher's market and Antonio Bastardo wins out, signing with the Mets on a $12 million pact. --Devan Fink ![]()
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Justin Upton to a six-year deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and Jon Heyman of MLB Network Monday evening.
Upton will make $132.75 million. This equates to a $22.125 million annual average value (AAV). That is just a bit less than Chris Davis ($23 million) and Jason Heyward ($23 million) earned in their new contracts this offseason. The deal is another pact this offseason that includes an opt-out clause, with Upton's coming after the second season. With the signing, the Tigers will forfeit their third round draft pick. Their first round selection, No. 9 overall, is a protected pick. Their second round slot was lost in the signing of Jordan Zimmermann early in the offseason. The Padres, Upton's former team, will gain a compensatory pick for him signing elsewhere. ![]()
The Kansas City Royals signed right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
According to Heyman, Kennedy will make $70 million over five years. This equates to a $14 million annual average value. The AAV on Kennedy's new contract falls right behind John Lackey and Scott Kazmir, who made $16 million per season, and right above J.A. Happ, who made $12 million per season. On total guarantee, Kennedy is eighth-richest starter who signed a new contract this offseason. For the Royals, Kennedy adds to an already expensive offseason for a team that is considered to be in one of the smallest markets in the Major Leagues. Prior to this deal, the Royals set their franchise record for largest contract earlier this offseason with the re-signing of Alex Gordon to a four-year, $72 million deal. The signing of Kennedy is an interesting one for the Royals. He has had success in the past, but just has not been consistent over his nine-year career. The Royals are good with "broken" pitchers and may see how to reconstruct Kennedy into the starter that finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in 2011. To date, the Royals' rotation is made up by the likes of Edinson Volquez, Yordano Ventura, Ian Kennedy, Danny Duffy, and Chris Young. Johnny Cueto, who spent the second half of the 2015 season in Kansas City, left for San Francisco via free agency. In 2015, the 31-year-old pitched for the Padres. He went 9-15 with a 4.28 ERA and a 174 to 52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 168 1/3 innings pitched. FanGraphs says he was worth 0.8 Wins Above Replacement. Over his career, Kennedy has a 3.98 ERA and a 1,140 to 412 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 1,234 2/3 innings pitched. He has spent time with the Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Padres. The Padres offered Kennedy a qualifying offer at the beginning of the offseason, so the Royals will have to forfeit their 2016 first round pick because of the signing. --Devan Fink |
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