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• More details on Trout

  March 05, 2013 by KenRosenthal

  Mike Trout’s agent, in his talks with the Los Angeles Angels, implied that the outfielder wanted a $1 million salary for 2013, according to major-league sources.

  Such a figure would have been the largest ever paid to a player with fewer than two years of service. But Trout’s agent, Craig Landis, could have asked for $25 million and it wouldn’t have mattered.

  Trout, as a pre-arbitration player, had no leverage. And the Angels, rather than reward Trout for his historic rookie season, simply followed a scale that they use for all of their pre-arb players, sources say.

  The team renewed Trout for $510,000 – the top of their scale for one-plus players, but just $20,000 above the major-league minimum. Outfielder Mark Trumbo agreed to the top of the Angels’ scale for two-plus players - $540,000.

  One source said that the Angels actually made Trout a higher offer than $510,000, then renewed him as a punitive measure when he would not accept. Another source, however, said the Angels did not negotiate in any fashion, refusing to deviate from their scale.

  Whatever happened, the real question is why the Angels weren’t willing to make an exception for Trout. They could have broken their scale for a player who won the AL Rookie of the Year and finished second in the MVP voting. They also could have gone above scale if they awarded bonuses to 0-to-3 players who achieve certain honors, the way other teams do.

  Ryan Howard’s $900,000 salary in 2007, coming off a National League MVP award, remains the highest ever awarded to a player with less than two years of service. Buster Posey received $575,000 in ’11 after winning the NL Rookie of the Year award and helping the San Francisco Giants win the World Series.

  The entire episode with Trout likely will be forgotten if he and the Angels reach agreement on a long-term contract in the near future. The team has every right to wield the hammer on players before they reach arbitration. After that, the great ones get paid in a big way.

  -Ken Rosenthal

   

   

   

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• Halladay velocity down; Amaro not concerned

  March 14, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  Et tu, Roy Halladay?

  The physical troubles of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley are well documented.

  Halladay, the Phillies’ ace right-hander, has not missed time this spring. But two scouts following the Phillies expressed concern Wednesday about the pitcher’s lack of velocity and sharpness in Grapefruit League play.

  One scout said Halladay topped out at 89 mph Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, threw from a lower arm angle and lacked bite on his changeup and sinker. Another said that Halladay does not resemble the same pitcher who comes out “like gangbusters” every spring.

  Halladay, 34, threw 70 pitches in 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits. He told reporters afterward that he was working on his changeup, and acknowledged that he is not satisfied with the way he is throwing.

  “I’m going to use the entire spring training to get ready,” Halladay said. “I feel like we’re getting closer. Mechanically, things are better. It’s just the consistency of executing pitches. It’s ultimately what I need to improve on the most.”

  Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., in an interview with FOXSports.com, said he is more worried about Halladay’s location than his velocity. But when an older pitcher such as Halladay shows signs of slippage, even in spring training, questions invariably arise.

  Halladay has thrown the most innings in the majors the past six years, averaging 236 per season. He also has pitched 38 innings in the past two postseasons. His fastball velocity has declined gradually but not markedly, dropping from 92.6 mph to 91.3 from 2008 to '11, according to Fangraphs.com.

  “I’m not worried about his arm strength,” Amaro said. “He’s only throwing 89 mph. He usually throws 91 to 93. It’s really not that much different at this stage of camp.

  “If it was March 25 and he was still throwing in that range and not locating, then I’d be concerned. Right now, he’s just working on command. I don’t have any concerns. He’s throwing a lot of off-speed pitches, working on his changeup, different things.”

  Amaro acknowledged that Halladay does not look like the same pitcher as he has in previous springs, but didn’t necessarily view that as a negative.

  “He’s learning that he doesn’t need to come out like gangbusters,” Amaro said.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Sources: Jays GM scouts Phillies’ Joe Blanton

  March 10, 2012 by JonPaulMorosi

  Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos scouted Joe Blanton’s start for the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday and left the ballpark after Blanton exited the game, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

  The circumstances are straightforward: The Blue Jays would like to add experience to their rotation, and the Phillies are willing to listen to offers for Blanton.

  Blanton, 31, pitched three shutout innings against the Orioles, allowing four hits. He walked one and struck out three. His starts will be closely scrutinized this spring after a medial impingement in his right elbow limited him to 11 games last year (1-2, 5.01).

  Philadelphia’s primary interest in moving Blanton would be salary relief: He is set to earn $8.5 million this season in the final year of his contract. If the Phillies move Blanton, they could use the savings to renew their efforts to re-sign free agent Roy Oswalt. The Phillies spoke with Oswalt’s agent during the offseason, but the sides weren’t able to agree on a contract.

  With Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia would have one of the top rotations in baseball even without Blanton — or Oswalt, for that matter.

  It’s not clear if the Phillies would look to upgrade their everyday lineup via trade. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have yet to play this spring because of injuries, and Howard is likely to miss most of the first half while recovering from a ruptured left Achilles.

  Phillies officials have said they are content with their existing options in left field. But the Blue Jays have a two-man competition — Travis Snider and Eric Thames — for the starting job there, raising the possibility one of them could be traded.

  Anthopoulos and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. are familiar with one another, having worked on the Roy Halladay blockbuster in December 2009. The teams train about five miles apart and play frequently in spring training.

  Toronto’s rotation has upside but plenty of question marks after No. 1 starter Ricky Romero. Brandon Morrow could develop into a No. 2 starter, but he’s coming off a season in which he went 11-11 with a career-high 4.72 ERA. Henderson Alvarez, 21, is inexperienced but possesses electric stuff. Left-hander Brett Cecil reported to camp in much better shape. Dustin McGowan, an inspiring comeback story, has made only four big-league starts over the past three seasons because of a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

  Blanton is 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA in 10 career postseason appearances (40-1/3 innings). No member of Toronto’s projected rotation has pitched in the playoffs.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Phillies updates: Howard, Thome, Madson/Papelbon

  January 13, 2012 by JonPaulMorosi

  Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. addressed a number of topics surrounding his team in a conversation with FOXSports.com this week.

  * Amaro said he remains open to upgrading the pitching staff, if he can add rotation depth or a left-handed reliever at reasonable costs. The Phillies also would like to add more speed to their bench.

  * Amaro said it will be “great” if first baseman Ryan Howard is able to return to the team in May after undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles. Amaro said Howard was recently cleared to resume strength-building exercises and some weight-bearing activities. “We’re still being very cautious with him,” Amaro said.

  In the meantime, Amaro is content with the internal options to fill in for Howard: John Mayberry Jr., Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix, and Jim Thome. “We’re covered,” Amaro said.

  * Amaro is very satisfied with reports on Thome, as he prepares to play in the field on a limited basis. Thome, 41, has played just four games at first base since 2005 – and none since 2007. “Our medical people are surprised at the shape he’s in,” Amaro said. “They think he might be better now than he was when we first signed him in 2002.” Amaro said it’s conceivable that Thome could play first base as often as four or five times per month.

  * Based on what former Philadelphia closer Ryan Madson received from the Reds ($8.5 million over one year), is there any second-guessing about whether the Phillies overpaid for Jonathan Papelbon at four years and $50 million?

  “That’s the beauty and difficulty of free agency,” Amaro said. “We knew there were other teams who were going to be very competitive in the market for closers. Once we got to an AAV (average annual value) of $12.5 million with Papelbon, we felt that was a reasonable deal for us to make.

  “We don’t necessarily like deals of that length. There is risk. But he has a good track record, when you look at what he’s done and the physical condition he’s in. He’s going to pitch this year at 31. In the end, we got the best guy for our situation.

  “When we came into the off-season, we identified closer as our most specific need – and that’s no disrespect to Jimmy (Rollins). We wanted a lockdown type of guy, and there aren’t all that many closers with that sort of track record. We’re trying to win more than one World Series. We wanted to find the best player we could for that role. The risk, if you wait too long, is that you don’t end up with that guy.

  “Markets can be fluid and difficult to gauge. I’m happy with the player we have.”

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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