December 4, 2013

NON-TENDER TALENT POOL

MLB.com posted an article on interesting non-tendered free agents. Some may re-sign with their old clubs, others are coming off major injuries, team salary relief, and a few have been in career collapse mode.

Former closers John Axford and Andrew Bailey among the biggest names not given a contract by their former clubs. Bailey is one of the most high-profile players to be non-tendered, but he also is due for a roughly $4.5 million salary despite coming off right shoulder surgery that could prevent him from being ready for Opening Day. The two-time All-Star posted a 3.77 ERA and eight saves last season for the Red Sox, who also non-tendered outfielder Ryan Kalish.

Boston's World Series opponent also parted ways with an expensive ex-closer. Axford, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Brewers in August, had a 1.74 ERA in limited action for St. Louis but also made $5 million last year.

Injured Diamondback pitcher Daniel Hudson, who is recovering from a second Tommy John surgery that could keep him out for much of -- if not all -- of 2014. 

The Angels non-tendered four players, including pitcher  Tommy Hanson , who had a 3.28 ERA over 77 starts for the Braves from 2009-11 but since the 27-year-old has dealt with injuries since and struggled to a 5.42 mark in 73 innings for the Angels last season. Pitcher Jerome Williams had been a solid swingman for the Angels the past three seasons, making 46 starts out of 79 appearances.

The Dodgers let go reliever Ronald Belisario. The righty, who made $1.45 million last season, appeared in 145 games for the club over the past two years, with a 3.24 ERA.
 
The Rockies parted ways with reliever  Mitchell Boggs, who had a 2.21 ERA over 78 appearances for the Cardinals in 2012 but struggled last year and was picked up by Colorado, where he appeared in only nine games, with a 3.12 ERA.

The Marlins cut Chris Coghlan, who posted an .850 OPS in 2009 that year but never came close to duplicating that production. Miami also cut ties with right-handed reliever Ryan Webb.

The Rays parted ways with outfielder Sam Fuld, a speedy defensive whiz who hit .199 last season and  lefty reliever Wesley Wright.

The Blue Jays non-tendered their previous starting catcher  J.P. Arencibia. The former first-round pick started 331 games behind the plate since debuting for Toronto in August 2010 but has a career .258 on-base percentage and was due to make more than $2.5 million in '14.

The Mets were one of the most active teams in terms of non-tendering, cutting five players from their roster: starter Jeremy Hefner, reliever Scott Atchison, infielders Omar Quintanilla and Justin Turner, and outfielder Jordany Valdespin. Those moves marked the end of Valdespin's tumultuous tenure in the organization, which included some highlight-reel plays but also confrontations with management, a 50-game suspension in the Biogenesis case and a .188 average with New York this season.

Other non-tendered players included Braves infielders Paul Janish and Elliot Johnson, Indians catcher Lou Marson, Royals infielder Chris Getz, White Sox pitcher Dylan Axelrod and Yankees infielder Jayson Nix.