Editorials

NL West Round-Up: D-Backs Offer Tanaka, Headley Avoids Arbitration

Chase HeadleySpring training begins in less than a month and teams are finalizing their rosters for the 2014 season. The four other National League West teams have made their moves and are heading full force into the season.

Here are the moves and rumors from around the NL West this week:



Arizona Diamondbacks

In their search for starting pitching, the Diamondbacks made a formal offer for Japanese starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. They offered the right-hander a reported six-year, $120 million deal and will know his choice by the deadline on January 24. The Diamondbacks were among five teams that offered a contract to Tanaka, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

Before heading to salary arbitration, the team also came to terms with right-hander Josh Collmenter and left-hander Joe Thatcher. Collmenter got a two-year deal just over $2 million, while Thayer got a one-year deal worth $2.375 million to avoid arbitration. Both will have a role in the pitching staff next season for the Diamondbacks.

Colorado Rockies

All the major moves have seemingly been made for the Rockies and they came to terms with their players eligible for arbitration. They struck a one-year deal worth a reported $1.7 million with Franklin Morales who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox. He’ll have a chance to make the starting rotation in the spring. Right-hander Wilton Lopez also got a one-year deal to avoid arbitration for just over $2 million.

The team also signed catcher Michael McKenry to a minor-league deal and invited him to Spring Training. He’s spent the last three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and drove in 14 runs for them last season. McKenry will try to make the club as the second catcher.

San Diego Padres

Avoiding arbitration became the Padres biggest move this week, as they made deals with five players. Third baseman Chase Headley signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal and will likely remain with the Padres after being the subject of trade rumors all off-season. Headley and the Padres couldn’t agree to terms on a long-term deal and settled for the one-year contract.

Also receiving deals this week were outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks, shortstop Everth Cabrera and pitchers Ian Kennedy and Tyson Ross. Kennedy got $6.1 million from the Padres after coming over in a trade from the Diamondbacks during the season. Starting pitcher Andrew Cashner remains the only player left in arbitration.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants seem to be content with their roster heading into 2014 and came to terms with some of their arbitration-eligible players. Gregor Blanco, Tony Abreu and Yusmeiro Petit all agreed to one-year deals with the Giants. Blanco got the biggest contract with just over $2.5 million for the year.

Still left to make deals with are Brandon Belt and Joaquin Arias. Belt is due for a significant raise after a season in which he hit 17 home runs. The Giants would like to avoid arbitration hearings and should announce deals in the coming week.

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ICYMI: Here’s the latest on the Dodgers pursuit of Masahiro Tanaka

Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

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