Here's the latest on a couple of extensions that happened last week:
--Devan Fink
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Free agent outfielder Juan Pierre has officially retired from baseball, he announced on his personal Twitter account on Friday. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald first reported the news. The speedy outfielder notched 614 stolen bases over a 14-year career with the Rockies, Marlins, Cubs, Dodgers, White Sox, and Phillies. Pierre's best attribute was easily his speed, as his 614 stolen bases ranked 18th all-time and first amongst active players at his retirement. Pierre did not play Major League Baseball in 2014, so retirement comes as far from a shock. The 37-year-old Pierre attended the University of South Alabama and was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 13th round of the 1998 MLB Draft. He worked his way quickly through the minors, reaching the big leagues in 2000 at age 22, and never going back to the minors until rehabbing from an injury with the Dodgers in 2008. Pierre was not a home run hitter. In fact, he launched only 18 home runs during his 8000+ plate appearances. However, Pierre's speed helped him to get over five times as many triples as home runs, as he had a career 94 three-baggers. Overall, Pierre is a lifetime .295/.343/.361 hitter, mostly out of the leadoff spot, where he was slotted at in 80.6 percent of his plate appearances. As a big leaguer, Pierre earned himself $57 million, according to Baseball Reference, and was worth a total of 23.2 fWAR and 83.2 Base Running Runs (BsR). I wish Juan Pierre the best in retirement and enjoyed watching him play, especially during the ladder part of his career. It still astounds me that he could be that effective on the bases even at that age. --Devan Fink The Chicago White Sox have continued their big offseason as they have agreed to sign outfielder Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal, according to 670thescore.com's Bruce Levine and CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Chicago has already signed Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, and David Robertson, while also acquiring Jeff Samardzija this offseason. Cabrera represents yet another big addition for them, this time for their outfield. Right fielder Dayan Viciedo has reportedly been shopped, and now with the addition of Cabrera, it seems it is only a matter of time before he gets dealt. The Mariners showed the most interest in Cabrera throughout this offseason, while he also had been connected to the Reds, Giants, Orioles, and Royals. No team reportedly wanted to go over three years for Cabrera, so it was almost a given that he would ultimately sign a three-year pact. The outfield was a bit of a problem for Chicago last year. They finished 28th in baseball in fWAR from their outfield, while finishing 24th in wRC+. Their OPS ranked 25th. This year, left fielder Avisvail Garcia will get a full season's worth of playing time, center fielder Adam Eaton was excellent last year and is only improving, and now they get a veteran in Cabrera to help out in right. This White Sox team won just 73 games in 2014, but a really solid offseason should put them in the hunt in 2015. Every addition they have made this offseason represented an upgrade, and as the young guys in their lineup and rotation continue to get better, it appears as if they could sneak their way into the playoffs come next September into October. On the year, the 30-year-old Cabrera hit .301/.351/.458 with 16 home runs and 73 runs batted in over 621 plate appearances. He was worth 2.6 fWAR this season, while posting a 125 wRC+. Cabrera has never been the best defender in the outfield. He was worth -6 defensive runs saved this past year. The Dominican Cabrera was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees in 2001. Over his career, he has hit .286/.339/.415 with 88 homers and 520 runs batted in over ten big league seasons with the Yankees, Braves, Royals, Giants, and Blue Jays. He tested positive and was suspended for PEDs in 2012. --Devan Fink The Chicago White Sox have agreed to sign relief pitcher David Robertson to a four-year, $46 million deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports report. The signing of Robertson represents yet another big transaction for the White Sox this offseason, as they have signed Zach Duke and Adam LaRoche, to help their bullpen and lineup, respectively, while also giving their rotation a boost with the recent acquisition of Jeff Samardzija. Robertson was likely the best closer on the market and definitely got paid like it. With the White Sox bullpen needing to be shored up this offseason, as it was very inexperienced, the signings of Duke and now Robertson help fill that void. Robertson joins a bullpen that includes the likes of Jake Petricka, Daniel Webb, and Zach Putnam, who are all 27 or younger. The 29-year-old Robertson went 4-5 with a 3.08 ERA and a 126 ERA+ in 64.1 innings pitched with the New York Yankees last season. He saved 39 games in 44 opportunities and struck out 96, while only walking 23. Robertson had been Marino Rivera's main setup man since 2011, when he was an All-Star. When Rivera retired in 2013, Robertson stepped into the closer's role with no trouble. The White Sox bullpen was among the worst in the majors last season in fWAR, posting a mark of 0.7. Their ERA ranked third-worst, even though they tossed the tenth-fewest innings. The addition of Robertson may really help the White Sox bullpen not only gain experience, but also improve their numbers. Chicago looks to be going for it, and a sure-fire bullpen can only help. The University of Alabama native was selected by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He is 25-19 over his seven-year big league career, which includes a 2.81 ERA and a 3.16 strikeout per walk ratio. Roberston has previously spent his entire career with New York. --Devan Fink The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-hander Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal. Reports last night said the two clubs were close to a deal and they officially announced the transaction today. The White Sox will also be receiving Michael Ynoa. In return, the Athletics will be receiving a package of prospects, including middle infield prospect Marcus Semien, who will be their answer at the shortstop position in 2015. They also will be receiving Josh Phegley, Rangel Ravelo, and Chris Bassitt. This is the second time Samardzija has been traded in the span of about five months. The Athletics acquired him and Jason Hammel from the Cubs in early July for Addison Russell and others. Now he is a part of the rebuilding effort in Oakland, which has already led to deals of Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss this offseason. It's been an insane few months for Billy Beane and the Athletics' front office. Samardzija will be joining a White Sox rotation that already looks good enough to contend next year. Chicago already boasts Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, and John Danks in their rotation, and could receive help from the pipeline in Carlos Rodon, their 2014 first round draft pick (3rd overall). They could easily contend in an AL Central division that no longer contains a powerhouse in the Detroit Tigers. It's wide open. The 29-year-old Samardzija established himself as one of the better young pitchers in the game last season. He pitched his way to an All-Star appearance, going 7-13 with a 2.99 ERA and a 126 ERA+ in 219.2 innings. Samardzija struck out 202 and walked just 43. By acquiring him in the offseason, the White Sox will be able to offer Samardzija a qualifying offer at the end of next year, as he becomes a free agent. Or, if they are not contending, they could deal him to a contender as a three-month rental in July. A third possibility, perhaps the best possibility for the White Sox' long-term success, would be to lock Samardzija up to an extension, something the Cubs nor the A's could do, being forced to unload him. The University of Notre Dame alum was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB Draft. In seven big league seasons with the Cubs and Athletics, Samardzija is 36-45 with a 3.85 ERA in 777.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 738 in that time as compared to 277 walks. The Athletics will be receiving an interesting package for Samardzija. First is Marcus Semien, who will likely fill the shortstop position for them in 2015. The 24-year-old Semien hit .234/.300/.372 with six homers and 28 runs batted in over 255 plate appearances this year with the White Sox. He has played second base, shortstop, and third base during his brief big league career. They also receive Josh Phegley, a 26-year-old catcher and former first round pick. Phegley has slashed .207/.221/.553 in 251 big league plate appearances, hitting seven homer and driving in 29. He still has some fading potential that Billy Beane and the Athletics are usually really good at bringing out. --Devan Fink |
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