News & Notes: Barajas Option Picked Up by Blue Jays; Henry Blanco, Counsell, Embree Options Declined for ‘09; Cardinals Re-Sign LaRue
Posted by Brian Joseph on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 8:51 pm
The Toronto Blue Jays have exercised the $2.5-million option on catcher Rod Barajas for 2009. In 104 games with the Jays in ‘08, Barajas hit .249 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI.
The 33-year-old Barajas started the season as the back-up to Gregg Zaun but overtook Zaun for the starting job as the season progressed. Zaun, also a free agent, has stated interest in returning to the club as a back-up but made $3.75-million in ‘08. In order for Zaun to stay in Toronto, it is expected that the veteran would be required to accept a large pay cut.
Other options include minor league catchers Curtis Thigpen and Brian Jeroloman. Long-term, the Blue Jays are projecting minor leaguer J.P. Arencibia as the team’s full-time catcher in 2010. Arencibia, 22, is hitting .286 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 16 Arizona Fall League games.
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The Chicago Cubs declined back-up catcher Henry Blanco’s $3-million option for 2009 and instead paid the buy-out of $300,000. The team plans to pursue Blanco at a lower price and are hopeful they will be able to re-sign him, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The 38-year-old Blanco hit .292 with three home runs in 58 games as the second option behind rookie Geovany Soto. Blanco made $2.8-million in ‘08 in his 11th Major League season and fourth with the Cubs. In limited action, Blanco was effective gunning down runners behind the plate with 10 out of 22 (45.4%) caught.
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The Milwaukee Brewers declined their 2009 option for $3.4-million on Craig Counsell and instead opted to pay the $400,000 buy out. The 38-year-old Counsell is now a free agent.
Counsell hit .226 in 110 games and made starts at third base, shortstop and second base. Counsell also pinch hit 38 times and went 6-for-33 (.182) with three RBI.
Counsell completed his 13th season in ‘08 and his second as a Brewer.
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The Oakland Athletics declined pitcher Alan Embree’s option for ‘09 making the lefty a free agent. The $3-million option was too much for the Athletics to tack on for the reliever who will be 39 in January.
Embree is a 15-year veteran who spent time with the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in addition to the Athletics. In ‘08, Embree made 70 appearances and went 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He has made at least 55 appearances in the last 12 seasons and was a member of the World Champion Red Sox in ‘04.
A left-handed reliever with considerable postseason experience — 31 appearances with a 1-0 record and 1.66 ERA — Embree is expected to draw considerable interest in the free agent market.
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The St. Louis Cardinals re-signed catcher Jason LaRue on Friday. The 35-year-old LaRue was brought back into the fold for one year at $950,000, according to The Associated Press and the signing came just one day after LaRue filed for free agency.
LaRue will back-up catcher Yadier Molina as he did in 2008. In 61 games, LaRue hit .213 with a .644 OPS but was the victim of a rough start possibly due to a knee injury.
