rusty2 wrote:Francona rips Red Sox owners in book

Terry Francona reveals the truth about the Red Sox's ownership in his new book.


UPDATED JAN 15, 2013 4:19 PM ET



''Francona: The Red Sox Years'' is co-written by the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy and is scheduled for publication by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on Jan. 22.

''They told us we didn't have any marketable players, that we needed some sizzle,'' Epstein is quoted as saying. ''We need some sexy guys. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. This is like an absurdist comedy. We'd become too big. It was the farthest thing removed from what we set out to be.''

On Nov. 2, 2010, a group gathered at Fenway Park to review results of that $100,000 marketing research project the Red Sox had commissioned following declining ratings of NESN, the regional sports network partly owned by the team.

The books stated the marketing report said: ''(W)omen are definitely more drawn to the `soap opera' and `reality-TV' aspects of the game ... They are interested in good-looking stars and sex symbols'' - a reference to All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

It seems Mark Shapiro and Company might have been reading from the book of Theo Epstein when retaining high profile "looks" guys like Grady Sizemore, Mark DeRosa and Johnny Damon.

Indians avoided arbitration with C Lou Marson by agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract.
Marson, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time, has batted just .216/.304/.290 over the last three seasons in Cleveland. He will again serve as Carlos Santana's backup in 2013.

Jan 18 - 8:52 AM

Looks like we saved $75,000 on Stubbs' deal compared with the estimate. Obviously it's based on his years of experience way more than what he did last year.

Cleveland Indians avoid arbitration with closer Chris Perez

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer
on January 18, 2013 at 1:03 PM, updated January 18, 2013 at 1:05 PM Print




CLEVELAND, Ohio -Indians closer Chris Perez avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract Friday worth an estimated $7.3 million.

Three other Indians had signed one-year deals as of 1 p.m., including righthander Joe Smith, catcher Lou Marson and outfielder Drew Stubbs.

Players and teams had until 1 p.m. to exchange figures for the 2013 season.

Still unsigned are right-hander Matt Albers, infielder Mike Aviles, and right-hander Justin Masterson.

The Indians have not had a player go to arbitration since 1991.

Indians avoided arbitration with RHP Matt Albers by agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
It was his third and final year of arbitration eligibility. Albers is coming off a career-best 2.39 ERA in 2012 and will look to give the Indians solid work in the middle innings this season.


Jan 18 - 2:08 PM

Cleveland Indians avoid arbitration with pitchers Chris Perez and Justin Masterson
By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer
on January 18, 2013 at 1:03 PM, updated January 18, 2013 at 3:09 PM



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Indians closer Chris Perez avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract Friday worth an estimated $7.3 million, plus bonuses.
Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio --For his 39 saves in 43 opportunties last season, Indians closer Chris Perez earned a 62-percent raise.

Perez was among the Indians who avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $7.3 million, plus bonuses. He earned $4.5 million in 2012.

Five other Tribe players came to terms on one-year contracts: starter Justin Masterson, relievers Joe Smith ($3.15 million base) and Matt Albers ($1.75 million), outfielder Drew Stubbs ($2.825) and catcher Lou Marson ($1 million).

Players and teams had until 1 p.m. to exchange figures for the 2013 season.

The only arbitration-eligible Indian still unsigned is infielder Mike Aviles. Calls to his representatives have not been returned.

The Indians have not had a player go to arbitration since 1991. Greg Swindell won his decision and Jerry Browne lost.

To be eligible for arbitration a player must be unsigned and have three years of major league service time. Players can also be eligible under the Super Two qualification, meaning they are in the upper 22 percent of the players with fewer than three years, but more than two of service time. The Super Two qualification was broadened from 17 percent to 22 percent in last year's basic agreement.

Here's what the Indians arbitration eligible players made last season: Albers $1.075 million, Aviles $1.2 million, Marson $491,700, Masterson $3.85 million, Perez $4.5 million, Smith $1.75 million and Stubbs $527,500.

Here is what they were projected to make through the process this year by mlbtraderumors.com: Albers $1.7 million, Aviles $2.3 million, Marson $800,000, Masterson $5.7 million, Perez $7.2 million, Smith $2.7 million and Stubbs $2.9 million. The total is $23.3 million.

The Indians acquired Albers, Aviles and Stubbs in trades this offseason.

If players and teams don't reach an agreement after exchanging numbers Friday, hearings are set for February. A deal can be reached at anytime before those hearings.

Perez has been an American League All-Star each of the past two seasons. He ranked fourth in the American League in saves last year.

Really interesting article on Mark Reynolds. I wonder if the Indians gave him an eye examination before signing him up?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=19409

Heh heh, that's pretty funny.

The Indians are closing in on a minor league contract with free agent utilityman Ryan Raburn.
The deal, which is expected to be finalized next week, would include an invitation to major league spring training. Raburn is coming off a miserable 2012 season in which he hit just .171/.226/.254, but he provides versatility with his ability to play four different positions and he has a history of performing well against left-handed pitching.
Related: Indians
Source: Jordan Bastian on Twitter Jan 19 - 4:36 PM

Indians To Sign Ryan Raburn

By Mike Axisa [January 19 at 5:10pm CST]


The Indians have signed Ryan Raburn to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reported the CSE client was close to a deal with Cleveland earlier today.

Raburn, 31, projected to earn $2.1MM through the arbitration process. However, after a season that saw him post a .171/.226/.254 batting line in 222 plate appearances, that salary seemed excessive to the Tigers. Raburn averaged 15 home runs per season from 2009-11 and owns a career batting line of .256/.311/.430. He played second base and both corner outfield positions in 2012. The Braves and Marlins had interest in Raburn earlier in the offseason.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#KTjE1XsTt51CrdX2.99

What don't the Indians understand about the phrase "washed up"?

A waste of money.

We've finally got the money to waste

This Post Has Been Deleted.

This shows how desperate they remain for OFs. Raeburn joins Fedroff and Carrera as the possible OF off the bench.