Nats’ Zimmerman: Trying to win should be norm, not exception
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. >> Ryan Zimmerman finds it odd that so many teams now feel the need to announce they are trying to win.
“I try and win every day,” the veteran Washington Nationals first baseman said Sunday. “I think that’s kind of the point of sports. That’s kind of what the whole basis about professional sports is — you try and win. When you have teams actively saying that we’re going to go into this free agent market in a win-now mode, I don’t know that you should have to state that it’s a win-now mode, but I guess where we’re at. I that’s troubling,”
Zimmerman made the comments while sitting at his locker, a few feet from where one of the offseason’s two premier free agents once dressed.
His former teammate Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are considered the jewels of the free-agent market, yet with position players reporting to most camps early this week, neither has signed.
Zimmerman isn’t the first Washington player to question why more front offices don’t appear committed to fielding the best possible team — that’s think Max Scherzer made similar comments when he arrived at spring training. More than 50 players who became free agents after last season still don’t have a place to play.
AP source: Brewers, Moustakas, nearing deal for $10M
Mike Moustakas and the Brewers are nearing a deal that would keep the third baseman in Milwaukee for a guarantee of $10 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because the agreement will be subject to a successful physical. The sides were negotiating a deal that would include a mutual option for 2020, the person said.
Talks toward a deal were first reported by The Athletic.
Moustakas’ deal would be his second in a row for one guaranteed year on the free-agent market. He rejected a $17.4 million qualifying offer from Kansas City after the 2017 season and returned to the Royals in mid-March for a one-year contract that included a guaranteed $6.5 million: A $5.5 million salary and $1 million option buyout.
Moustakas earned an additional $2.2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances, raising his total earnings in the deal to $8.7 million.
Moustakas hit .256 with eight homers and 33 RBIs in 54 games for Milwaukee, which acquired him from the last-place Royals on July 27. A
Former Phillie Loup, Padres agree to $1.4M, 1-year deal
PEORIA, ARIZ. >> Left-hander Aaron Loup and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees $1.4 million, a deal that includes a team option for 2020.
Loup gets a $1.2 million salary this year under the agreement announced Sunday. San Diego’s option is for $2 million with a $200,000 buyout.
He can earn an additional $800,000 annually in performance bonuses based on appearances.
A 31-year-old reliever, Loup had a 4.54 ERA in
59 games last year for Toronto and the Phillies, who acquired him July 31. He struck out 44 and walked
14 in 39 2/3 innings. Loup came up to the major leagues with Toronto in 2012 and is 12-20 with a 3.49 ERA and six saves in 378 relief appearances over seven seasons.