Red Sox acquire Kimbrel from Padres for prospects
The Boston Red Sox have acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres for four prospects.
The Red Sox assume $25 million remaining on Kimbrel’s contract in their first big acquisition since Dave Dombrowski took over as president of baseball operations on Aug. 18. Kimbrel was obtained by the Padres in a blockbuster deal the day before the 2015 season started.
The deal was announced Friday night.
Kimbrel had 39 saves in 43 chances for the Padres, who underachieved despite a roster makeover by general manager A.J. Preller.
The Padres receive outfielder Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra and Carlos Asuaje, and lefthander Logan Allen.
Asuaje spent 2015 with Double-A Portland, Margot split the season between Class A Salem and Portland, and Guerra was with Class A Greenville. Allen, Boston’s eighth-round draft pick, split time between Boston’s rookie-level affiliate and Class A Lowell.
Murphy rejects Mets • Daniel Murphy declined the Mets’ qualifying offer of $15.8 million before Friday’s deadline, opening the door for him to seek a lucrative multi-year deal elsewhere.
Murphy, 30, had been expected to decline. Though he could still re-sign with the Mets, a reunion is unlikely as they have shown little appetite for the kind of multi-year deal Murphy will command on the open market.
Instead, Murphy’s tenure with the Mets almost certainly will end. He had been willing to negotiate in season, but his representatives and the Mets never held talks. The club has long had concerns about how Murphy’s defensive range might decline with age.
Jays give Estrada $26 million • Free agent righthander Marco Estrada has agreed to a $26 million, two-year contract to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto announced the agreement Friday, minutes before the deadline for Estrada to accept the team’s $15.8 million qualifying offer for a one-year contract.
Estrada gets a $1 million signing bonus payable by Jan. 29 and salaries of $11 million next year and $14 million in 2017.
The 32-year-old was 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA, setting career bests for wins, ERA and opponents’ batting average. He was 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in the playoffs.
Wieters accepts offer • Catcher Matt Wieters has accepted the Baltimore Orioles’ $15.8 million qualifying offer, saying his decision was based primarily on his comfort level with the team.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Wieters said Friday, “For a one-year deal, there’s no place more comfortable than playing baseball for the Orioles.”
Wieters joins Houston’s Colby Rasmus as the only players in the four-year history of the compensation system to accept a qualifying offer rather than remain a free agent.
Wieters played in 75 games last season after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2014. He batted .267 with eight homers and 25 RBIs, but his main contribution was his work with the pitching staff.
Details of Gutierrez deal • Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez has been guaranteed $1.5 million by the Seattle Mariners in his one-year contract and can make $4.25 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Gutierrez hit .292 with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs in 189 plate appearances over 59 games this year with the Mariners.
His new deal, announced Wednesday, calls for $500,000 bonuses for 200 plate appearances and each additional 50 through 500.
Once a Gold Glove center fielder with Seattle, Gutierrez was limited by injuries and stomach issues to 173 games from 2011-13, when he had six stints on the disabled list. Gutierrez sat out 2014.
Anderson stays in LA • Starting pitcher Brett Anderson has accepted a $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers and will remain with the team in 2016.
Starter Zack Greinke and second baseman Howie Kendrick declined qualifying offers Friday and remain free agents.
Anderson was 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA this season in his healthiest year since 2009. The lefthander made 31 starts and threw 180 1/3 innings, earning $2.4 million in performance bonuses based on innings, in addition to his $10 million salary.
Associated Press
