MLB Notebook: Royals, RHP Guthrie finalize $25 million, 3-year deal
BY RONALD BLUM Associated Press
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/12 at 4:12 AM
Two and a half months in Kansas City changed the course of Jeremy Guthrie's career.
Now, he's going to try to keep it going for three more years.
The 33-year-old right-hander agreed to a $25 million, three-year deal to return to the Royals on Tuesday, solidifying another piece for what should be a retooled starting rotation next season.
Guthrie will make $5 million in 2013, $11 million in 2014 and $9 million in 2015.
"Jeremy pitched very well for us," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said on a conference call shortly after announcing the deal. "He's someone we liked a great deal. We feel he can give us innings, give us consistency and everything you want in a starting pitcher."
Guthrie struggled the first half of last season, going 3-9 with a 6.35 ERA for the Colorado Rockies, before getting traded to Kansas City for another struggling starter, Jonathan Sanchez.
Guthrie flourished at pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium. He went 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 starts for the Royals, and the team went 10-4 in his starts, winning 10 of the final 11 outings.
Kuroda, Yankees agree to $15 million deal: Hiroki Kuroda is staying with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a $15 million, one-year contract.
Kuroda, who turns 38 in February, was the Yankees' most consistent pitcher during the regular season. He went 16-11, tying for the team lead in wins, and led New York with 33 starts and 219 2/3 innings.
After losing six of his first nine decisions, he finished with a 3.32 ERA that was second among New York starters behind Andy Pettitte's 2.87.
Kuroda joined the Yankees after four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a $10 million base salary last season and earned $1 million more in performance bonuses based on innings. He turned down a $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Yankees, and he would have cost a new team a selection in June's amateur draft.
Union to monitor Marlins after payroll purge: The players' association will monitor the Miami Marlins following their payroll purge, saying it is too early to determine whether the salary cuts will cause any issues under baseball's labor contract.
After complaints by the union that the Marlins weren't using revenue-sharing money to improve, the players' association, Major League Baseball and the Marlins reached a three-year agreement in January 2010 that the team would increase payroll annually as it prepared to move into its new ballpark in 2012.
After opening last season with a $112 million payroll, the Marlins cut it to $90 million by the end of the season. With the trade of All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and four others to Toronto on Tuesday, Miami's payroll next season projects to be around $36 million.
Commissioner Bud Selig approved the deal Monday.
"We understand and we're not surprised at the commissioner's decision to approve the trade," union head Michael Weiner said Tuesday. "We'll be monitoring the Marlins for compliance with the Basic Agreement throughout the 2013 season."
Rockies acquire Wheeler from D-Backs: The Colorado Rockies have traded left-hander Matt Reynolds to the Arizona Diamondbacks for corner infielder Ryan Wheeler.
Wheeler played in 50 games for the Diamondbacks last season, batting .239 with six doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBIs. He also hit .351 with 15 homers and 90 RBIs at Triple-A Reno, where the 24-year-old was an All-Star. He was the D-Backs' fifth-round draft choice in 2009 out of Loyola Marymount.
Reynolds pitched for the Tulsa Drillers during the 2009 season, appearing in 21 games with a 1-2 record and an ERA of 4.21.
Blue Jays hire Gibbons as manager again: Blue Jays President Paul Beeston couldn't believe it when he learned the Blue Jays had the chance to land three star players from the Miami Marlins last week. He was equally surprised when his general manager told him he wanted to hire John Gibbons to manage the Blue Jays again.
"They were back-to-back shockers," Beeston said with a laugh.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos unexpectedly hired Gibbons as his new manager on Tuesday, a day after a megadeal with the Miami Marlins reinvigorated the roster and raised expectations the Blue Jays will make the playoffs for the first time since winning their second consecutive World Series in 1993. Only Kansas City and Pittsburgh have longer playoff droughts.
"I said 'Are you serious?,' " Beeston recalled. "Forget about him being an intellectual, he's a baseball guy. And those are the guys you really want in your organization."
Gibbons managed Toronto 2004-08 and had a 305-305 record, making him the third-winningest manager in franchise history.
Cabrera, Blue Jays finalize $16 million deal: New Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is happy to have Melky Cabrera after the All-Star game MVP finalized a $16 million, two-year contract with Toronto.
Cabrera, who completed a 50-game suspension for a positive test for testosterone, was not wanted back by the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
"He's still a good hitter, on the stuff or not," Gibbons said.
Cabrera gets $8 million in each of the next two seasons, up from a $6 million base salary this year.
The 28-year-old was leading the National League in hitting at .346 when he was suspended Aug. 15. He asked for a rules change that disqualified him from the batting title, feeling it would be a tainted crown. Cabrera had 11 homers, 25 doubles and 60 RBIs in 113 games.
Cubs designate LaHair, make trade with Rangers: The Chicago Cubs say they have designated first baseman Bryan LaHair for assignment because he and the club are pursuing an opportunity for him in Japan.
An All-Star last season, LaHair batted .259 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs in 130 games. He originally signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent in December 2009.
The Cubs made several other moves on Tuesday, acquiring right-handed pitching prospect Barret Loux and a player to be named from the Texas Rangers for right-hander Jake Brigham.
Associated Images:
Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. Associated Press file
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