Nov
3
2012

Some Surprises As Far As Players Who Did Or Didn’t Get Qualifying Offers Last Night

An article by Hojo's Mojo

As you may have already heard, the Angels have opted against giving outfielder Torii Hunter a $13.3 million qualifying offer. After five years with Anaheim and becoming a fan favorite and an integral part of the Angels’ clubhouse, Hunter is now a free agent.

Last night, veteran pitcher Dan Haren also became a free agent despite a last minute attempt to trade him and his team option to the Cubs.

Although both could be re-signed by the Angels it doesn’t appear that will be the case.

“Anything is possible,” General Manager Jerry Dipoto said, when asked if he would continue to talk with Hunter and Haren, “but I can’t say anything is likely.”

According to one of their beat writers, Dipoto said the Angels will go with a younger and much cheaper starting outfield of Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and speedy center fielder Peter Bourjos next season, with underachieving Vernon Wells, who is owed $42 million over the next two years, in reserve.

There had been speculation that Bourjos would be traded, but now that seems very unlikely with Hunter gone. The Angels are focused on acquiring a frontline starter and some say they will pursue free-agent right-hander Zack Greinke, who could command a deal in the five-year, $120-million range.

However, if the Mets are unable to work out an extension with R.A. Dickey, I’m almost certain he would have great appeal to them.

It looks like designated hitter David Ortiz and the Red Sox have come to an agreement that could earn Ortiz $30 million in a two year deal. It’s not official yet, but Red Sox took no chances and made him a $13.3 million qualifying offer anyway.

Ortiz, 37, batted .318 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs while missing almost half the season due to a strained right Achilles tendon.

The Yankees also made qualifying offers to right fielder Nick Swisher, pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and reliever Rafael Soriano.

Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton, Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn, Washington first baseman Adam LaRoche and St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse also got the offers before the 5 p.m. deadline.

Players now have until November 9th to accept the qualifying offers. If a player turns down the offer and signs elsewhere, his former team would receive an extra selection immediately following the end of the first round of next June’s amateur draft.

About the Author: Rob Johnson

9 Comments + Add Comment

Jessep November 3, 2012 at 2:56 pm

I’m very surprised by the Hunter scenario. He wants to play for LAA though, and even said he’d take less $. But… I’d LOVE to see him at Citi Field. He’s exactly what they need as a temporary fix in RF.
- Even Flow November 3, 2012 at 6:14 pm
  
  Imagine what kind of influence he’d have on Valdespin, who had somewhat similar numbers to what Hunter had before he started playing full time.
TruthsaboutMurphy November 3, 2012 at 3:24 pm

He costs to much. Isn’t that pathetic?
LA Met Fan November 3, 2012 at 4:49 pm

Lots of pissed off Angels fans out here. Nice to see some other team’s fans bitch and moan for a change. LOL
LA Met Fan November 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm

BTW you left Angel Pagan off your list, that was a big surprise and Giants fans will implode if he dont come back.
Joey D. November 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm

I wonder how many players and teams would agree to just a one year qualifying offer.

The $13.3 million figure is arbitrary and wouldn’t it seem that players who feel they will be either worth more and/or can get guaranteed multi-year deals would opt out – while others who would jump at the chance to get something close to that amount would then find the team opting out instead?

Will be interesting to see how many agree to that one year deal.
Moose November 4, 2012 at 2:22 am

It would be nice if the mets could find a way to sign both tori hunter and bring back Angel Pagan. If we could loss Bays contract someway either trade
- Just_Da_Damaja November 4, 2012 at 2:53 am
  
  Theres a better chance that one or both players are NY Yankees next year…
  
  If the Yanks sign Hunter to a 1 year deal, trade granderson…sign Pagan to a 2 year deal…let Swisher go…let Ibanez go…re-sign Ichiro to a 1 year deal
  
  their OF would be
  
  DH/LF – Gardner/Hunter
  CF – Pagan
  RF – Ichiro
  
  All 4 would be able to play all 3 OF positions…combined all 4 would make less than A-Rod or Tex or CC
  
  that would dramatically change the way they do business w/o sacrificing payroll flexibility in the slightest
  
  Plus they probably would get a decent prospect for Granderson, esp if they traded him to a place where he can produce well…
  
  ATL could be a fit if they dont resign Bourn
  SF could be a fit they dont resign Pagan
  PHI also could be a fit
  Texas also could be a fit
  
  and Granderson would essentially be a 1 year rental
  
  if any of the 3 teams falls out of the race and Granderson is producing, they could re-trade him by July
Nathan November 4, 2012 at 10:46 am

I really cannot see LaRouche being worth 13.3 million dollars. I know its only for one year but what effect will this have on the market?

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	25	18	.581	-
Nationals	23	21	.523	2.5
Phillies	21	23	.477	4.5
Mets	17	24	.415	7.0
Marlins	12	32	.273	13.5

Last updated: 05/19/2013

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