Mets fans know Yadier Molina all too well from his home run that won the 2006 National League Championship Series for the Cardinals. But Molina really was a subpar hitter back in those days. In 2011, Molina put together a .349 on-base percentage and .465 slugging percentage. It appears that, at age 29, Molina is starting to become an offensive force in addition to an elite defensive catcher. The Cardinals have a bargain $7-million option on Molina for 2012 that they'll exercise, and after that, it's in Molina's hands. If he explores free agency after 2012 . . . it wouldn't be as a big a deal as Albert Pujols' impending free agency, of course. But you could argue that Molina would be more difficult to replace on the field, given the shortage of quality catchers. That's why the Cardinals will try to lock up Molina long- term this winter – www.newsday.com
The Minnesota Twins declined the option on former closer Joe Nathan, and on Saturday he acknowledged that the New York Mets will be on his "radar" once free agency begins on Thursday. One of the priorities this offseason for the Mets is to shore up their bullpen, which had an underwhelming 4.33 ERA and 1.45 WHIP this past season. Even more specific, the Mets don't have a clear-cut closer, after Bobby Parnell struggled and blew as many saves (six) as he had. Thus, when the Twins decided against picking up his option, Nathan instantly became a name the Mets have to consider in rebuilding their bullpen. - http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-mets/2011/10/29/2524097/joe-nathan-new-york-mets-free-agency-minnesota-twins
The pool of starters, while not too deep, is certainly worth dunking a toe in, especially for rotation-starved teams. The list has some intriguing names, especially if CC Sabathia opts out of his Yankee contract and hits the open market. Most in the game feel he’ll remain in New York, however. Teams needing help can turn to lefty C.J. Wilson (l.) or, possibly, Japanese star Yu Darvish. Beyond those hurlers, guys like Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt, Edwin Jackson, Javier Vazquez and Chien-Ming Wang could be interesting choices, though Vazquez has talked retirement. The team executive said a guy like Wilson would get a good contract, but that it might not be a league-wide bidding war. “It’ll be 2-3 teams going at it,” the executive said. Both the agent and Bowa pegged Wilson as more of a No. 2 starter than a true ace, and both opined that Wilson might be better off going someplace like Anaheim, where he could slot in behind No. 1 Jered Weaver. Bowa thought the Rangers, Yankees and Red Sox would also be in on Wilson. “If he wants No. 1 money, he may have to look for a franchise without one,” Bowa says. But, Bowa notes, Wilson has also had “command issues, a lot of deep counts, a lot of walks. The playoffs haven’t gone as he’d like.” Predictions: Sabathia stays with the Yankees, Wilson signs with the Angels and Darvish (once he’s posted by Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters)joins the Rangers. Vazquez retires, Jackson signs with the Orioles, Wang rejoins the Nationals and Oswalt helps open the Marlins’ new stadium www.nydailynews.com
Francisco Rodriguez’s $17.5 million mutual option has been declined, and the Milwaukee Brewers reliever was among 148 players who become free agents Sunday. K-Rod’s deal was reworked when he was traded from the New York Mets during the All-Star break, changing it from an option that would have become guaranteed had he finished 55 games. Rodriguez, used as a setup man by the Brewers, gets a $4 million buyout, up from the original $3.5 million. In addition, the Brewers declined a $6 million club option on shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt), who gets a $2 million buyout. Others whose options were declined included Atlanta outfielder Nate McLouth; Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook; and the San Diego trio of right-handers Aaron Harang and Chad Qualls, and outfielder Brad Hawpe. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-freeagents
According to a New York Yankees executive, the terms of a renegotiated deal for pitcher CC Sabathia were transmitted to his representatives over the weekend, but the team has yet to receive a response. "We believe it is a very fair offer,'' the executive said. "But we haven't heard anything back yet.'' Sabathia has a clause in his contract that allowed him to opt out of the remaining three years of his seven-year, $161 million deal after the conclusion of the World Series, which ended Friday. Sabathia has yet to file for free agency, but Yankee insiders expect that despite the new offer, he will opt out to test the free agent market. That would not preclude him from re-signing with the Yankees, for whom he has won 59 games over the past three seasons. Calls to Sabathia's agent, Brian Peters, were not immediately returned. Meanwhile, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has his new contract, but hasn't signed it yet, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the situation. Cashman, whose three-year, $6 million contract expires on Monday, has been incommunicado all weekend. But the baseball source, who was involved in the negotiations for Cashman's new deal, told ESPNNewYork.com that a final version of the contract approved by the Yankees has been in Cashman's possession since Saturday. "All the terms and conditions are done,'' said the source, who declined to provide details of the contract. "My understanding is (Cashman) was going over it with his lawyer (Saturday night).'' – www.espn.com (update: - SI_JonHeyman - Cc sabathia is planning to opt out of his yankees contract by the monday night deadline, making him a free agent)
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