A report from Ignacio Serrano of ESPN Deportes has the Tigers on the verge of signing Victor Martinez for four-years, $50 million. Serrano says that it’s all but done and is pending a physical. Ken Rosenthal is confirming the report.
Rosenthal adds that the Tigers outbid the Red Sox (which we discussed the other day), the White Sox and the Orioles. The Red Sox offer was two-years, $21 million. It’s unclear if the Orioles or White Sox came closer in terms of dollars or years. And the years may be more important for Martinez. He was more emotional when he was traded away from Cleveland last year than any player in that situation that I can recall. He appears to really value stability and keeping family close, and the ability for him to stay in one place — at least theoretically speaking — is probably high on his list.
As for the Tigers: Martinez would certainly be valuable as a middle-of-the-order bat and, as everyone is obligated to note when discussing him, having him around gives them added flexibility. He won’t be playing a ton of first base in Detroit with Miguel Cabrera hanging around, but he will certainly be useful shuttling between catcher and DH and can spell Cabrera at first when necessary. What this deal also seems to do is to take the Tigers out of the running for Adam Dunn. That is, unless Detroit is silly enough to put him Comerica Park’s left field. If they thought Johnny Damon was an adventure out there, just wait until they get a load of Dunn’s “range.”
(link and translation via Bless You Boys)
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As depressing as all things Mets have been lately, the team on the field still finished a respectable 77-85 last season. Unfortunately, it seems likely that things will get worse before they get better. Rotation Johan Santana – L R.A. Dickey – R Mike Pelfrey – R Jon Niese – L Dillon Gee – R…
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AP
Much like Giants ace Tim Lincecum, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has experienced back stiffness following his first couple of workouts in spring camp. Also like Lincecum, who was able play to play catch Wednesday, Kershaw’s issue is thought to be minor. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick that Kershaw’s scheduled Wednesday bullpen session…
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Reuters
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard is slowly but surely making progress from the torn Achilles tendon that he suffered on the final play of the 2011 NLDS. According to the AP, via NBCSports.com, Howard took batting practice from a live pitcher Wednesday in Phillies camp for the first time since the injury. The first baseman spoke…
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Jason Isringhausen has found a home for 2012. According to MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez, the veteran reliever agreed to terms on a minor league contract Wednesday evening with the Angels. The deal also includes an invitation to spring training, where Izzy will presumably have a shot at claiming a spot in Anaheim’s Opening Day bullpen. Isringhausen…
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AP
It’s one thing for a manager to be peeved that his young player decided not to report early to camp. It’s another thing when he starts airing out that grievance to the media. Mets manager Terry Collins did just that on Wednesday. According to MLB.com, Collins was quite disappointed that shortstop Ruben Tejada is deciding…
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Fact: people like me spend way too much worrying about how lineups are arranged. Simulations suggest that only the worst lineups, ones that even Dusty Baker would never conceive of, have a real impact on run scoring. The difference between what a major league manager would typically run out there and a supposed optimal lineup…
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Quote of the Day: Ron Gardenhire on the Prince Fielder signing
Feb 22, 2012, 5:46 PM EST
We began the day with some gratuitous profanity, so let’s end the day with some gratuitous profanity. This is from Phil Mackey’s Twins’ notebook at 1500ESPN.com: “(Expletive).” – Gardenhire, when asked by a reporter what his thoughts where when the Tigers signed Prince Fielder. Concise. To the point. I like it.
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Jay Gibbons, who spent the past two seasons as a role player for the Dodgers, has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Brewers. Gibbons was a regular in the middle of the Orioles’ lineup from 2001-2007, but was named in the “Mitchell Report” and suspended for the beginning of 2008, getting released by the…
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See anything wrong with this picture? Like, say, the righty Yu Darvish playing catch with the glove on his right hand? According to Evan Grant, Darvish does that sometimes to keep balance. Or something. Looks cool. But remember, Meat: If you win 20 in the show, you can throw with your left hand and the press’ll think…
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Brandon Phillips on contract talks with Reds: “I haven’t heard anything”
Feb 22, 2012, 4:46 PM EST
AP
Brandon Phillips arrived at Reds camp today and naturally got some questions about the status of long-term contract negotiations as the second baseman enters his final season before free agency. Phillips told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that the two sides haven’t talked about a deal since “before Redsfest … it’s been a long…
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Lou Piniella has been out of the game for a year, randomly showing up as an analyst here and there. But now he has a more permanent job: YES Network has hired him to do some Yankees games. Not a ton of them — between 20-30 of them — but more than his cameo appearances…
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Indians cancel Jon Garland signing after pitcher doesn’t take physical exam
Feb 22, 2012, 3:49 PM EST
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Last week the Indians and Jon Garland agreed to a minor-league contract and as usual with such deals it was pending a physical exam. Those are usually just a formality, but Garland is coming back from shoulder surgery and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that he never took the physical exam ……
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Terry Collins is mad at a player for not reporting to camp early. Again.
Feb 22, 2012, 3:30 PM EST
AP
Remember last year when Mets manager Terry Collins was upset that Luis Castillo didn’t report to camp on time? No, of course you don’t, because Castillo did report to camp on time. Collins was mad that Castillo didn’t report to camp early. It’s just that when you’re Terry Collins, on time is late and early…
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UPDATE: It’s now a done deal. ========== After sitting out all of last season Cristian Guzman is expected to sign a minor-league contract with the Indians, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Guzman, who made All-Star teams as a shortstop in 2001 and 2008, will be invited to spring training to compete for a bench…
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There will be no Chipper Jones is in The Worst Shape of His Life posts
Feb 22, 2012, 2:55 PM EST
I wasn’t gonna say anything about this, but you people won’t leave me alone, so here it is: no, I am not going to do a “Chipper Jones is in the Worst Shape of His Life” post. And it has nothing to do with me being a Braves homer. I just don’t see the evidence…
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Albert Pujols doesn’t like the Angels calling him “El Hombre” on their billboards
Feb 22, 2012, 2:33 PM EST
Reuters
Albert Pujols never liked the “El Hombre” nickname while he was in St. Louis, but the Angels decided to use it on their billboards promoting his arrival without asking him and Pujols isn’t happy. Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles reports that there are 20 billboards around Southern California with the “El Hombre” nickname and…
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Someone is suing the Marlins, claiming they bought the team for $10 million at an auction
Feb 22, 2012, 1:41 PM EST
This is fun. In 2008, Marlins’ president David Samson apparently served as auctioneer at what I can only guess was a charity auction at a Florida Marlins awards banquet at a country club. At the outset of the auction, he said, in what I can only guess was a joking manner, that the Marlins were…
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Jose Reyes isn’t the only Marlins star cutting off his hair for charity
Feb 22, 2012, 1:20 PM EST
Jose Reyes cutting his hair and selling it for $10,200 in a charity auction was such a big deal (or there was such little in the way of real news) that MLB Network broadcast the clipping of his dreadlocks live in prime time. Reyes’ new teammate, ace Josh Johnson, didn’t get quite the same attention…
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The Rays must have some weird tax situation that absolutely requires that no one show up for their June 29 game against the Tigers. How else to explain them giving away a promotional item that, if there is a God in Heaven, should send people running for the hills or an exorcist or something. From…
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Much has been made of Tony La Russa hanging out in Tigers camp with his friend Jim Leyland, but the retired manager will soon be making an appearance in Cardinals camp as well. Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that La Russa will be participating in a charity golf tournament next week…
