Royals, Joakim Soria agree to three-year, $25m deal
The Mets had expressed early interest in signing 31-year-old RHP Joakim Soria to help form a lockdown formula in their bullpen.
However, as the top-tier of relievers began to sign long-term deals, such as Darren O’Day and his four-year, $31 million deal with the Orioles and Ryan Madson and his three-year, $22 million contract, it became clear the market for relief pitchers would be at a premium as teams emphasize shortening ballgames in the bullpen while starting pitchers seemingly pitch less and less.
Such was the case with Soria, as he is returning to the Royals (Crasnick, ESPN) on a three-year, $25 million deal (Cotillo, SB Nation).
The deal also includes an option for a fourth year (Fenech, Detroit Free Press). (more…)
Joakim Soria has no problem pitching in a setup role
The market for free agent relief pitching is beginning to move and the prices for such pitchers is also rising at a similar pace, thanks to reported deals for Darren O’Day (four-years, $31 million with the Orioles) and Ryan Madson (three-years, $22 million).
That could have implications on the Mets search for a premium reliever, as they’ve reportedly shown interest in signing Joakim Soria this winter.
But there’s been speculation throughout the industry Soria, 31, would prefer to close and not bridge the gap to the closer for his new team.
But that is not at all the case, according to Mike Bernadino of the Pioneer Press.
“If he’s got to be an eighth-inning guy, he’s got no problem with that,” his agent Oscar Suarez told Bernadino, “as long as he’s paid accordingly.” (more…)
Orioles to sign Darren O’Day, A’s to sign Ryan Madson to multi-year deals
The short relief market is beginning to become more defined as the Winter Meetings approach.
The A’s have agreed to sign 35-year-old RHP Ryan Madson to a three-year, $22 million contract, tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
This news follows Darren O’Day agreeing to terms on a four-year, $31 million contract with the Orioles early Sunday, according to multiple reports, although he denied an agreement has been reached early Sunday afternoon.
Suddenly, it looks like the Mets tendering a contract to Jenrry Mejia wasn’t a bad idea after all.
Madson’s deal is especially surprising, considering he hadn’t pitched since 2011 after missing the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons with a variety of injuries, including undergoing Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow. But he had an excellent year in 2015 with the Royals, going 1-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 68 appearances with a 195 ERA+.
The Mets have sought to shore up their late-inning relief corps and build a lockdown formula inclusive of Jeurys Familia in the ninth inning. They’ve tendered a contract to Addison Reed, but are still in need of one right-handed reliever, as well as a left-handed reliever.
They’ve reportedly shown interest in O’Day, Joakim Soria and Steve Cishek, but these two deals for O’Day and Madson will help the latter two relievers net multi-year deals in free agency, especially Madson’s deal considering both Soria and Cishek are younger than him.
But in the case of Soria, he should now be able to get at least a three-year deal, and equal money to Madson, at worst.
Cishek is a little different in that he isn’t eligible for free agency again until 2018. He was a super-two player in 2014 so he has two years of arbitration left before he can become a free agent. So, any team who signs him – even if it’s to a one-year deal – gets that extra year of control anyway. So, perhaps the Mets or his other suitors might consider a two-year, $9-10 million deal for Cishek, which would be very team-friendly.
But no matter what, if the Mets intend to add the quality they seek, they clearly need to consider multi-year offers for such options, as it will be difficult to find what they’re looking for on one-year terms.
In addition to Soria and Cishek, Trevor Cahill, Antonio Bastardo, Tony Sipp, Tyler Clippard and Jonathan Broxton are among the notable relievers still on the open market, but the Mets have not yet been connected to any of those pitchers.
Six teams – including the Mets – are interested in RHP Joakim Soria
The Mets have made re-tooling their bullpen a top priority this winter.
That stands to reason, as in five games in the World Series, the Mets bullpen gave up 24 earned runs in 51 1/3 innings, allowing 47 hits and 17 walks while blowing all three save opportunities they had, arguably costing them a World Championship in 2015.
One of the free agent relievers the Mets have expressed interest in is RHP Joakim Soria, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
But Soria has many suitors, and the Mets face some stiff competition if they intend to procure the 31-year-old right-handed reliever. (more…)
5 teams – including the Mets – have shown interest in Joakim Soria
The Mets have made re-tooling their bullpen a top priority this winter.
That stands to reason, as in five games in the World Series, the Mets bullpen gave up 24 earned runs in 51 1/3 innings, allowing 47 hits and 17 walks while blowing all three save opportunities they had, arguably costing them a World Championship in 2015.
One of the free agent relievers the Mets have expressed interest in is RHP Joakim Soria, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
But the Mets have company in their interest, as the Royals, Giants, Rangers and Twins have all expressed interest in Soria, according to James Schmehl of Michigan Live.
An early suitor for Soria’s services was the Tigers, who traded him to the Pirates mid-year. And according to Schmehl, the Tigers were attempting to negotiate a two-year deal with the free agent reliever, but he turned that deal down, the two sides never agreed to a contract, and Detroit acquired RHP Francisco Rodriguez instead.
Soria is looking for a deal in the range of three years and $27 million, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN, and it’s possible Soria could sign as a closer on the market, making a marriage between the reliever and the Mets unlikely, writes Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
Still, adding someone like Soria would give the Mets three right-handed pitchers in their bullpen capable of closing. That could be significant, as Familia was arguably overworked in his first season as the club’s closer, and having flexibility in the ninth inning would unquestionably allow them to spread the wealth as needed.
Soria, 31, was traded from the Tigers to the Pirates ahead of the trade deadline in 2015, meaning he is not tied to compensation in the 2016 draft. He was solid for the Tigers in 43 games before being traded, going 3-1 with a 2.85 ERA with 23 saves, allowing only 32 hits and 11 walks with 36 strikeouts in 41 innings. But as Mark Melancon’s setup man in Pittsburgh, Soria had a 2.03 ERA in 29 games, allowing only 23 hits and eight walks with 28 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.
In addition to Soria, the Mets could consider Ryan Madson, Jonathan Broxton, and Trevor Cahill to fill their need.
