Clips Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Detroit News Henning: Tigers want to deal, not solely lop payroll (Henning) Tigers tender all six arbitration-eligible players (McCosky)

MLive.com Tigers keep Andrew Romine, tender contracts to all arbitration-eligible players (Woodbery) trade as likely as Tigers dealing Ty Cobb, ESPN reporter says (Woodbery)

MLB.com Interest grows for Martinez leading up to Winter Meetings (Beck) Tigers tender offers to all six eligible players (Beck)

Daily Transactions

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Henning: Tigers want to deal, not solely lop payroll December 3, 2016 By Lynn Henning/ The Detroit News

Phones began ringing more often Thursday in big-league front offices, including one in Detroit, and not surprisingly. Once a new owners-players deal was sealed Wednesday night, clubs had a greener light to talk trades while settling on free-agent strategies. No names have been revealed from the Tigers’ conversations. But here is what’s known as 30 clubs pack for Sunday’s check-in at ’s Winter Meetings, which this year are set for suburban Washington, D.C. The Tigers are not — are not — obligated by ownership to chop payroll even if luxury-tax punishment hits them again in 2017. They will make trades, likely one or two next week, if they’re offered players they see as making a team healthier for the long term. If they don’t get deals they like, Tigers general Al Avila will take something similar to last year’s club into spring camp in 2017. That’s important information but not exactly news. There has been a popular, stubborn belief that, behind the scenes, Ilitch family members have been holding a gun to Avila’s head ordering him to whack salaries. In fact, there has been no such decree. Ever. The impetus for making the Tigers less expensive was always tied to a more fundamental need at Comerica Park. The Tigers had to get more speed and defense into their lineup. They’ve needed at least as much a parcel of young, hard-throwers. And not for one season’s playoff push, but for multiple years. Those skills happen to be more prevalent in younger players who deliver a dual benefit. They don’t cost as much early in their career and can be carried on a team’s roster for years ahead of free agency. There’s your basis for expectations the Tigers would be major offseason wheeler-dealers. It’s younger talent first, payroll second, in order of a team’s priorities. And nothing about that sequence has changed in the minds of a front office or a team’s owners. The question is whether Detroit can make the trades Avila ideally hopes to swing. Big salaries and no-trade clauses already have complicated life for the Tigers and inquiring teams. Cabby's hefty deal Miguel Cabrera can be dealt — if the Tigers care to pick up tens of millions on the $213 million still owed him through age 40. It’s conceivable a team will bargain on some combination of salary and a prospect or two. But it’s highly unlikely. The market for Cabrera today: Zero. All because a man who turns 34 in April has too much contract baggage. Even the well-heeled teams (Red Sox, as one example) are dealing with luxury-tax realities and new penalties that make Cabrera all but prohibitive. So, unless a surprise awaits Avila next week, Cabrera is here to stay. Perhaps for the duration of his career. Justin Verlander is in a different situation. Slightly, anyway. He has $84 million guaranteed during the next three years, which isn’t necessarily a disqualifier for a man who nearly won this year’s league Award. Now that he and his fiancée, Kate Upton, have secured a new abode in Beverly Hills, Calif., it’s all the more tempting to see him as Dodgers property in 2017. Except … The Dodgers are being elbowed by Commissioner Rob Manfred’s office. They’ve spent $1 billion on salaries the past four years, which isn’t a brand of economy favored at MLB headquarters. The Dodgers won’t easily add $28 million to their 2017 paydays, although they have options that might allow room for Verlander at the same time a prospect or two could please Detroit. These are why phones and the Winter Meetings can be a happy pairing. All it takes is a couple of earnest conversations and what seemed remote is today’s blockbuster deal. Keep in mind, Verlander (or for that matter, Cabrera) can approve or reject any deal. It’s one more potential hitch in a possible swap. J.D.'s trade appeal

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J.D. Martinez is, for sure, your Tigers Player Most Likely To Be Traded during the next week. But he, too, isn’t without hang-ups. There is a bumper crop of right-handed power on the autumn market. Martinez is signed only through 2017. The Tigers can trade him, absolutely, because of his power and pure hitting skills. But will they get more for him now? Or, perhaps, next July, when a team smelling the playoffs, and maybe one big bat away from thoughts, makes an offer along the lines of those the Tigers leveraged in dealing Yoenis Cespedes and David Price in July 2015? Ian Kinsler is marketable, also. But it depends upon the team and Kinsler’s disposition toward it. He has a 10- team, no-trade clause. He has said he’ll approve any deal to one of those clubs depending upon his feelings toward it, and even then only if he gets a contract extension as a sweetener. Not a lot of teams need second basemen. Kinsler could easily be at Lakeland, Fla., in 10 weeks readying for his fourth season in Detroit. All that matters in pondering baseball trades is will. The reason Detroit figures to make one or more swaps next week is because, absolutely, the will is there to get younger and better — and, in the process, cheaper. Consider next the quality of talent Detroit might auction: Verlander, Martinez, Kinsler, or even Victor Martinez, or any who’s not named Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris, or, perhaps, Matt Boyd. There is inventory galore available for discussion. And for bargaining. It is known Avila has been asking Somerset Collection retail prices on his available players, which hasn’t greatly pleased certain GMs who can’t believe Avila was serious. But that’s not a bad way to begin discussions. You can always come down. You can listen to counter offers. You can negotiate in the fashion GMs have jockeyed for as long as players have been dealt. Expect something to happen next week in Washington, D.C. One deal, probably, at the very least. What’s important for Detroit’s fans is to know the front office has its freedom. There will be no trades that don’t, in the eyes of a GM, make a team better and more competitive well beyond 2017. That’s smart policy, it seems. It also makes next week’s all but inevitable business even more intriguing.

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Tigers tender all six arbitration-eligible players December 3, 2016 By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Detroit — The Tigers on Friday tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players. Jose Iglesias, third baseman Nick Castellanos, Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson and Bruce Rondon, plus super utility man Andrew Romine were tendered. That means all six players remain under club control. The Tigers have until late February to work an agreement before the two sides would go before an arbitration panel. All six players will get raises well above the league minimum. According to a formula devised by MLBTradeRumors.com, Iglesias, who made $2.1 million last season, has a projected arbitration salary of $3.2 million. Castellanos would increase his salary from $536,500 to an estimated $2.8 million. Justin Wilson’s salary would raise to $2.7 million, from $1.525 million. Alex Wilson would go from $522,500 to $1.2 million. Rondon, $507,500 last year, would make $900,000. Romine would get a raise, from $900,000 to $1.2 million. The Tigers have a long history of working out deals to avoid arbitration.

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Tigers keep Andrew Romine, tender contracts to all arbitration-eligible players December 3, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers are in cost-cutting mode, but not enough to sweat a potential $1.2 million salary for a useful utility player. The team tendered contracts to all six of its arbitration-eligible players, including utility man Andrew Romine, who was the only tough decision among the bunch. The others are: shortstop Jose Iglesias; third baseman Nick Castellanos; and relievers Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson and Bruce Rondon. The Tigers could have cut ties with any of the players by "non-tendering" them before Friday night's deadline. (A list of players non-tendered around the league is here). The Tigers must agree to contract terms with the arbitration-eligible players by next month. If not, an arbitrator will hear arguments and set the player's 2017 salary. The Tigers prefer, like most teams, to avoid arbitration. They settled with all of their players before hearings last offseason. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that the six players will cost the Tigers $12 million in 2017. are listed below. Jose Iglesias * 2016 salary: $2.1 million (avoided arbitration) * Service time: 4 years, 36 days (second year of arbitration) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $3.2 million Nick Castellanos * 2016 salary: $536,500 * Service time: 3 years, 29 days (first year of arbitration) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $2.8 million Justin Wilson * 2016 salary: $1.525 million (avoided arbitration) * Service time: 4 years, 35 days (second year of arbitration) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $2.7 million Andrew Romine * 2016 salary: $900,000 (avoided arbitration) * Service time: 4 years, 49 days (second year of arbitration) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $1.2 million Alex Wilson * 2016 salary: $522,500 * Service time: 3 years, 38 days (first year) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $1.2 million Bruce Rondon * 2016 salary: $507,500 * Service time: 3 years, 37 days (first year) * 2017 projected arbitration salary: $900,000 Projections are from MLB Trade Rumors. Players with at least three years but fewer than six years of MLB service time are eligible for arbitration. In some cases, a player very close to three years of service time can reach arbitration. These "Super 2 players" represent the top 22 percent of players between two and three years of service time. The Tigers have no players in that category this year.

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After Miguel Cabrera intervenes, Omar Vizquel back as Venezuela manager December 3, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- An increasingly public feud between Detroit Tigers first base Omar Vizquel and former Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen was resolved amicably after Tigers star Miguel Cabrera intervened, according to Venezuelan baseball writer Wilmer Reina. After a week of uncertainty, Vizquel is once again the manager of the Venezuelan team for the World Baseball Classic. The country's federation reaffirmed their support in a release Friday night. On Thursday, a parade of Venezuelan stars publicly threatened to quit unless Vizquel was reinstated. Guillen, the team's general manager, had reportedly clashed with Vizquel on several issues. News leaked on Tuesday that Vizquel was being replaced by Eddie Perez, prompting a week-long standoff. On Friday, Vizquel posted several messages Friday imploring Guillen to call him. They eventually met and emerged smiling in a photo shared on Twitter. Cabrera's role in the resolution was unclear, although he was notably absent from the group of Venezuelan players who spoke out publicly on Thursday. Cabrera was Guillen's teammate for four seasons with the Tigers and was thus in position to help him patch things up with Vizquel.

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Interest grows for Martinez leading up to Winter Meetings December 3, 2016 By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

DETROIT -- The list of potential destinations for Tigers slugger J.D. Martinez keeps growing as the Winter Meetings near. So, too, does the potential motivation for Detroit to trade him. As Tigers officials measure the ramifications of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, they've held discussions with the Phillies on a potential deal for Martinez, according to MLB Network insider and MLB.com columnist Jon Paul Morosi. Those talks have not progressed beyond the initial stages, but they reinforce what others around the industry are saying: Of all the Tigers veterans available to trade, Martinez is the most likely to go. The Phillies join a list of reported suitors that includes the Dodgers and Giants. The Mets also reportedly discussed Martinez before they re-signed Yoenis Cespedes earlier this week to a four-year, $110 million contract, a deal that could greatly shape Martinez's potential free-agent market next offseason. Martinez is under contract for $11.75 million in 2017, the back half of a two-year deal he signed last winter to take care of his final two arbitration-eligible seasons. That cost certainty, even in the short term, is an advantage for any team. Given that, Martinez would seemingly have value for the Tigers to keep around for one more year and gain a compensation Draft pick if he signs elsewhere. However, the new CBA dramatically lowers the value of that pick. If Martinez was a free agent this offseason, the Tigers could have made him a qualifying offer and recouped a Draft pick late in the first round if he signed elsewhere. Under the new CBA, only smaller-market teams get a first-round compensation pick if they lose free agents, and only if they sign for more than $50 million. Other teams get later picks. Unlike many other potential trade targets on the Tigers' roster, Martinez has no-trade veto rights in his deal. Martinez, who turns 30 in August, .307 with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2016. His .908 OPS led all Major League right fielders with a qualifying number of at-bats, including Most Valuable Player Award runner-up Mookie Betts. Martinez's .299 average and .898 OPS since '14, his first season in Detroit, rank sixth among all Major League , while his .540 slugging percentage is fourth.

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Tigers tender offers to all six eligible players December 3, 2016 By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

DETROIT -- The Tigers' quest to pare back payroll below luxury-tax levels did not affect their arbitration decisions. All six arbitration-eligible Tigers -- shortstop Jose Iglesias, third baseman Nick Castellanos, utility man Andrew Romine and relievers Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson and Bruce Rondon -- were tendered contracts for 2017. Most of the decisions were fairly easy. While Rondon and the two Wilsons were significant setup pieces in the Tigers' , Castellanos and Iglesias formed an improving left side of the Detroit infield. The one player with any hint of suspense was Romine, who played every position but in 2016 as a super utility player. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to make around $1.2 million in arbitration in 2017. Romine has spent three seasons in Detroit, which acquired him from the Angels in a trade in 2014, following Iglesias' season-ending injury in camp. Romine ended that season getting the bulk of the playing time at short, then transitioned to a utility role once Iglesias returned to action in 2015. Romine's role expanded last season, turning him from an extra to a part-time center fielder and occasional first baseman. He picked up some late- work in the outfield corners once the Tigers cut ties with fellow super utility player Mike Aviles. Romine even served as an emergency pitcher, recording the last two outs of a 16-5 loss at Kansas City on June 18. He also pitched in a game in 2014. Romine was the Tigers' emergency catcher, though he didn't get into a regular-season game behind the plate. Romine batted .236 (41-for-174) with a .626 OPS, two home runs and 16 RBIs, a quarter of which came without putting a ball in play. He drew three bases-loaded walks, including a tiebreaking ball four in the eighth inning against the Red Sox on Aug. 18, and took a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. Castellanos is up for arbitration for the first time in his career, coming off a 2016 season in which he set career highs with a .285 batting average, .827 OPS and 18 home runs, despite missing nearly two months with a broken hand. He's projected to make $2.8 million in 2017, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Iglesias is projected to make $3.2 million in his second year of arbitration, coming off a season in which he was a finalist while batting .255 with four homers and 32 RBIs in 137 games. The MLB Trade Rumors' projections for the six add up to $12 million. The Tigers currently have about $173 million in guaranteed salaries to 11 players on their roster, not including a $6 million payment for part of Prince Fielder's salary stemming from his November 2013 trade from Detroit to Texas. Add in arbitration, other players to fill out the roster and player benefits, and the Tigers are projected to surpass the luxury-tax threshold, even with the threshold raised to $195 million under baseball's new collective bargaining agreement.

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LAST UPDATED: SAT, DECEMBER 3, 2016, 02:18 EST

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Arizona Diamondbacks Rubby De La Rosa Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Arizona Diamondbacks Welington Castillo Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Atlanta Braves Paco Rodriguez Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Atlanta Braves Chris Withrow Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Atlanta Braves Anthony Recker Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Baltimore Orioles Vance Worley Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Boston Red Sox Bryan Holaday Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Chicago Cubs Brian Duensing Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017)(one-year contract)

Chicago White Sox Blake Smith Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Chicago White Sox Avisail Garcia Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Chicago White Sox Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Cleveland Indians Jeff Manship Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Colorado Rockies Matt Carasiti Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Colorado Rockies Jake McGee Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

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Colorado Rockies Stephen Cardullo Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Los Angeles Angels John Lamb Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Angels Cody Ege Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Milwaukee Brewers Chris Carter Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Milwaukee Brewers Scooter Gennett Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Milwaukee Brewers Kirk Nieuwenhuis Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Minnesota Twins Eduardo Escobar Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

New York Mets Rene Rivera Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

New York Yankees Jacob Lindgren Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Oakland Athletics Yonder Alonso Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Philadelphia Phillies Cody Asche Designated for Assignment

Philadelphia Phillies David Rollins Acquired Off Waivers From from Rangers, Texas

Philadelphia Phillies Cody Asche Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Pittsburgh Pirates Wade LeBlanc Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

San Diego Padres Alexi Amarista Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

San Diego Padres Jon Edwards Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

San Diego Padres Hector Sanchez Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

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San Diego Padres Tyson Ross Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

San Diego Padres Jose Pirela Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

San Diego Padres Erik Johnson Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

San Francisco Giants Ehire Adrianza Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

San Francisco Giants Cory Gearrin Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Seattle Mariners Ryan Weber Outrighted to Minors

St. Louis Cardinals Seth Maness Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Texas Rangers Jared Hoying Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

Toronto Blue Jays Andy Burns Outrighted to Minors

Toronto Blue Jays Chris Colabello Outrighted to Minors

Washington Nationals Traded From from Padres, San Diego (for RHP Pedro Avila)

Washington Nationals Ben Revere Not Offered Contract and Became Free Agent, (non-tendered)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Jaime Garcia Traded From from Cardinals, St. Louis (for RHP John Gant, four-player deal)

Baltimore Orioles Logan Schafer Signed to a Minor League Contract

Cleveland Indians Signed to a Minor League Contract

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Cleveland Indians Michael Martinez Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Angels Cody Ege Designated for Assignment

Los Angeles Angels Traded From from Royals, Kansas City (for RHP Jared Ruxer)

Los Angeles Angels Tony Sánchez Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Hatcher Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Los Angeles Dodgers Scott Van Slyke Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Miami Marlins Edinson Volquez Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017-2018)(two-year contract)

Oakland Athletics Jaff Decker Signed to a Minor League Contract

Oakland Athletics Jermaine Curtis Signed to a Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Pat Venditte Outrighted to Minors

St. Louis Cardinals John Gant Traded From from Braves, Atlanta (for LHP Jaime Garcia, four-player deal)

Washington Nationals Jose Lobaton Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Tuffy Gosewisch Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Baltimore Orioles Logan Verrett Traded From from Mets, NY Mets (for cash considerations)

Colorado Rockies Jordan Lyles Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

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Houston Astros Norichika Aoki Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Minnesota Twins Jason Castro Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017-2019)(three-year contract)

New York Mets Yoenis Cespedes Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017-2020)(four-year contract)

Oakland Athletics Matt Joyce Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017-2018)(two-year contract)

Oakland Athletics Chris Parmelee Signed to a Minor League Contract

St. Louis Cardinals Brayan Peña Cleared Waivers and Became a Free Agent

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