Baseball Daily Dose: Offseason Dose: Iwakuma Matata

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After watching Zack Greinke opt out to head into free agency and losing out in the David Price sweepstakes, the Dodgers finally made a starting rotation upgrade, or so it seemed. On December 6, they reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with Hisashi Iwakuma. Earlier this week, they backed out of the deal after the right-hander failed a physical. On Friday, the Mariners jumped in and inked Iwakuma to a one-year, $12 million deal. The deal includes vesting options for 2017 and ’18 with $1 million buyouts for each. His 2017 option vests at $14 million with 162 innings pitched this coming season, and his 2018 option vests at $15 million with either 162 innings pitched in ’17 or 324 combined innings between ’16 and ’17.

Iwakuma, 34, signed with the Mariners on a one-year, $1.5 million deal in January 2012 and would spend the following four seasons in Seattle. He proved to be a reliable arm behind ace Felix Hernandez, compiling an aggregate 3.17 ERA along with 551 strikeouts and 127 walks over 653 2/3 innings.

Iwakuma spent about a month and a half on the disabled list between late April and early July this past season due to a strained lat muscle. The injury limited his effectiveness, as he finished with a major league career-high 3.54 ERA. Still, he averaged 5.29 strikeouts for every one walk, a ratio that was bested by only 11 other starters.

The Mariners upgraded their starting pitching earlier this offseason, acquiring Nate Karns from the Rays and Wade Miley from the Red Sox. Karns, Miley, and Iwakuma join a rotation that already includes Hernandez, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton.

Phillips Trade Falls Through

On Thursday, the Reds and Nationals agreed to a trade that would have sent second baseman Brandon Phillips to the nation’s capital in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers. The deal was pending Phillips’ waiving of his 10-and-5 rights. A player earns 10-and-5 rights – essentially a no-trade clause — by spending 10 years in the majors, with the most recent five years coming with the same team.

Phillips, needing an incentive to waive his 10-and-5 rights, requested a contract extension. That prompted the Nationals to move on. Phillips has two years and $27 million remaining on his six-year deal with the Reds originally signed in April 2012. He’s 34 years old and has averaged just over two wins above replacement (league average) over the last three seasons, so it’s easy to see why the Nationals lost interest.

Phillips hit a solid .294/.328/.395 with 12 home runs, 70 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases this past season. In terms of adjusted OPS (a.k.a. OPS+) which takes OPS and accounts for league and park factors, Phillips hasn’t finished above the league average of 100 since 2011. His marks over the last four seasons: 99, 94, 90, and 97. He’s still a solid defender, but it is quite reasonable to expect that and his speed to decline as he progresses through his mid-30’s.

The Reds continue to make an effort to sell. The club traded third baseman Todd Frazier to the White Sox on Wednesday. They are also reportedly shopping outfielder Jay Bruce and closer Aroldis Chapman.

A’s Gamble on Alvarez

The Athletics, as they are wont to do, took a gamble on an injured pitcher, signing Henderson Alvarez to a one-year, $4.25 million deal on Friday. The deal includes $1.6 million in incentives.

Alvarez was heading into his second year of arbitration eligibility, but was non-tendered by the Marlins earlier this month. He made four starts this past season before being sidelined due to a partially torn UCL in his right elbow and inflammation in his right shoulder. Alvarez underwent shoulder surgery in July but is hoping to be ready by Opening Day.

Alvarez, when he’s healthy, averages 93 MPH on his fastball and also has a slider and a change-up in his arsenal. The right-hander, though, doesn’t miss many bats, having struck out fewer than 13 percent of batters faced over his five-year career. Alvarez succeeds by limiting walks and inducing ground balls. Since 2011, only 16 pitchers (min. 500 innings) put up a lower walk rate than Alvarez’s 5.5 percent. Only seven induced grounders at a higher rate than Alvarez’s 55 percent.

The Athletics don’t need to rush Alvarez back, since they have him under team control through 2017.

Quick Hits: The Indians signed lefty reliever Joe Thatcher to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Thursday … The Phillies signed relievers Edward Mujica and Andrew Bailey to minor league contracts on Thursday … The Twins signed lefty reliever Fernando Abad to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Thursday … The Rangers signed outfielder Justin Ruggiano to a one-year, $1.65 million contract on Thursday … The Blue Jays signed pitcher Brad Penny to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Thursday … The Padres signed starter Brandon Morrow to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Thursday … The Pirates acquired 1B Jason Rogers from the Brewers for outfielder Keon Broxton and pitcher Trey Supak on Thursday … The Rangers re-signed starter Colby Lewis to a one-year, $6 million contract on Friday … The Marlins re-signed catcher Jeff Mathis to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Friday … The Pirates signed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year, $2 million contract on Friday … The Indians acquired pitcher Dan Otero from the Phillies for cash considerations on Friday … The Tigers signed utilityman Mike Aviles to a one-year, $2 million deal on Saturday … Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon updated his 17-team no-trade list for 2016, removing the Giants, Indians, Phillies, Tigers, and Yankees and adding the Astros, Braves, Mariners, Reds, and Royals. The Diamondbacks, Orioles, Rockies, White Sox, Dodgers, Marlins, Brewers, Twins, Athletics, Pirates, Rangers, and Blue Jays remain on his list … The Marlins have reportedly made a five-year contract extension offer to second baseman Dee Gordon … The Blue Jays claimed outfielder Junior Lake off waivers from the Orioles on Friday … The Mets are expected to meet with free agent outfielder Denard Span in January … The Rangers signed pitcher and former #1 overall pick Matt Bush to a minor league contract following a three-year prison sentence for a DUI hit-and-run … The Rockies signed reliever Adam Ottavino to a three-year, $10.4 million contract extension on Saturday … The Athletics and pitcher Jarrod Parker avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $850,000 contract on Saturday … Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu said on Friday that he expects to be ready for the start of spring training … Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman is off limits in trade walks, according to a report … The Rangers have received plenty of trade interest in infielder Jurickson Profar, but the team prefers to hang onto him.

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