Sources: Rosenthal, Nats agree for 2019
WASHINGTON >> Trevor Rosenthal’s return from Tommy John surgery will come with the Washington Nationals after the former St. Louis Cardinals closer agreed in principle to a 2019 contract, according to two people familiar with the deal.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He missed all of last season after reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow in 2017.
One person told the AP that Rosenthal gets a one-year contract that guarantees $7 million and allows him a chance to earn an additional $8 million in performance bonuses. According to that person, Rosenthal’s salary next year will be $6 million, and the agreement includes a $15 million conditional player option for 2020 that kicks in if Rosenthal appears in 50 games next year or has 30 games finished.
The 28-year-old Rosenthal is a hard-throwing righty reliever with 121 career saves in the majors, all with the Cardinals. That includes a career-high 48 saves in 2015, when he was an NL All-Star, and 45 the year before.
Astros decline option on McCann
HOUSTON >> The Astros have declined their $15 million club option for 2019 on catcher Brian McCann.
McCann spent the last two seasons with Houston Astros after a trade from the New York Yankees in November 2016. McCann made $17 million last season in the final guaranteed year of a five-year, $85 million contract he signed in with the Yankees in 2014.
Pirates decline option on Harrison
PITTSBURGH >> Josh Harrison’s tenure at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates is over.
Pittsburgh declined 2019 options for Harrison and third baseman Jung Ho Kang.
The Pirates opted to pay Harrison a $1 million buyout rather than the $10.5 million he was scheduled to make next season. The 31-year-old, a key part of Pittsburgh’s run of three straight playoff berths from 2013-15, hit .250 with three home runs and 37 RBIs.
Gardner gets deal from Yanks
NEW YORK >> Brett Gardner is staying with the New York Yankees at a lower salary.
The 35-year-old outfielder agreed Wednesday to a $7.5 million, one-year contract after New York declined his $12.5 million option.
Gardner, New York’s longest-tenured player, gets a $2 million buyout triggered by the team’s decision to decline the option, meaning he will receive $9.5 million total — a $3 million savings for the team under the option price.