MINOR DEAL: CUBS RE-SIGN MORROW
As expected, the Cubs reached agreement with reliever Brandon Morrow on a minorleague deal that will pay him $1 million in base salary if he remains healthy and makes the club, with another $1.25 million available in workload incentives, sources confirmed.
Morrow, 35, was dominant as the Cubs’ closer in the first half of 2018 after signing a two-year, $21 million deal, before an elbow injury and a series of setbacks sidelined him for the remainder of his contract.
He joins a bullpen that now includes seventime All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.
Morrow’s agent told the Sun-Times last month that his client was healthy and willing to sign a minor-league deal with the Cubs if they were interested in bringing him back.
“The Cubs invested a lot of time into Brandon, and money, of course, and Brandon feels a certain sense of loyalty and obligation back to the Cubs to stay with them if they want him on a minor-league contract or something like that,” agent Joel Wolfe said.
Gordon Wittenmyer
LESS MONEY FOR CESPEDES
Yoenis Cespedes’ salary for 2019 was cut in half and his pay for 2020 reduced as part of a settlement of a grievance between the injured outfielder and the Mets.
Cespedes agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract in December 2016 but hasn’t played since July 20, 2018. The outfielder had surgery to remove bone calcification from his right heel on Aug. 2, 2018, and his left on Oct. 26.
Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Cespedes’ former agent, said in late May the outfielder sustained multiple right ankle fractures in an accident at Cespedes’ ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club’s spring complex is located.
The Mets withheld part of Cespedes’ salary, alleging he was hurt during an activity prohibited by his contract’s guarantee language. The players’ association filed a grievance, and the sides settled on an amended contract before the case was argued.
Van Wagenen said last month he was uncertain whether Cespedes would play in 2020. A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old has played in only 119 games in the first three seasons of the contract, including just 38 since the end of the 2017 season.
PLAYER MOVES
The Mets signed right-hander Michael Wacha to a one-year, $3 million deal that includes a possible $8 million in performance bonuses. Wacha, 28, was 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 24 starts for the Cardinals last season.
♦ The Rangers signed right-hander Jordan Lyles to a two-year, $16 million contract. Lyles, 29, was 12-8 with a 4.15 ERA in 28 starts for the Pirates and Brewers last season.
♦ The Brewers signed left-hander Brett
Anderson to a one-year, $5 million contract. Anderson, 31, was 13-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 31 starts for the A’s last season.
♦ The Red Sox reportedly signed lefthander Martin Perez to a one-year, $6.5 million contract. Perez, 28, was 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 29 starts for the Twins last season.
♦ The Rays reportedly will sign Japanese outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to a two-year, $12 million contract.
♦ The Phillies signed outfielder Matt Szczur to a minor-league contract. Szczur, 30, played with the Cubs from 2014-17. ✶