Jake Arrieta and the Cubs agreed to a $10.7 million deal to avoid arbitration ($450,000 above the mid-way point between the numbers that each team submitted). His 2016 salary will be roughly three times his 2015 mark of $3.63 million. It’s good to be a baseball player.

Zach Britton agreed to a $6.75 million to avoid arbitration with the Orioles. Britton is coming off a second straight season with an ERA under 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00, and both years he hit 36 saves (he had 37 in 2014). He also punched out 79 batters in 65.2 innings while walking just 1.92 per nine. Toss in an INSANE 79.1 percent ground ball rate and you’ve got yourself one sick-ass producer in the 9th inning.

Tyler Clippard has agreed to pitch for the D’backs the next two years for the sum of $12.25 million. Clippard has thrown at least 70-innings each of the past six years and is as durable as any hurler in baseball. For his career he owns a 2.88 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, numbers he almost matched last season (2.92 ERA, 1.13 WHIP). His velocity was a six-year low at 91.5 mph and his 8.11 K/9 rate was a seven-year low. Additionally, he walked 3.93 batters per nine, a five-year worst. He will still throw innings but it seems like the innings might be catching up to him. He shall setup for Brad Ziegler.

You’ve heard of the Player Profile Series right? You know the one where I write on and on about a guy breaking down all his skills. That link is the homepage for the whole endeavor. Bookmark it for future use as I’m continually adding new data to it.

Alex Cobb is generating a lot of interest as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. He didn’t have the surgery until May last season so he won’t be pitching this season until the second half if I had to guess. 

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the 2016 MLB Draft Guide which includes more than 600 Players Ranked, auction values, rookie reports, hitting and pitching targets as well as all the info you need if you’re ready to start playing DFS.

Yovani Gallardo is still a free agent. Sounds like the Orioles might be in the lead to acquire his services at the moment, though that’s hardly encouraging for Gallardo who is seemingly being killed by the first round pick tied to him after he turned down the Rangers qualifying offer. Gallardo posted 13 wins and a 3.42 ERA last season but also had a terrible 1.42 WHIP and just 5.91 strikeouts per nine innings, a dreadful mark for a guy who at one point recorded 200 strikeouts in 4-straight seasons (2009-2012).

Did you miss me and the Sirius XM gang at the Super Bowl? If you did, click on that link. It even has photos of me and the beautiful women of Sirius.

Bryce Harper will be a Yankee in a few years. Everyone seems to think so. Ugh. I don’t like the Dodgers.

Cliff Lee is said to want $6-8 million as a base salary with the ability to earn substantially more in incentives. Perhaps the 37 year old lefty has forgotten that he didn’t throw a pitch that counted last season and has thrown just 81.1 innings the last two seasons.

Joe Nathan is 41 years old but he plans on pitching this season. Coming back off his second Tommy John surgery there is no telling if Nathan will ever pitch in the bigs again, yet alone if he will be effective if given the chance.

Hyun-Jin Ryu may not be ready to start the season on-time after needing shoulder surgery. Dude scares the hell out of me. I would only be rostering him in mixed leagues right now if I had a DL spot. Even then, why bother until he proves he’s ready? I’d rather throw a few bucks at Alex Wood, no question.

Drew Smyly won his arbitration case against the Rays as he was awarded $3.75 million (the Rays had offered $3.2 million). Can’t trust that Smyly is making 30 starts, no sir, but he’s struck out more than 10 batters per nine with a 2.52 ERA over 19 starts with the Rays. That’s some serious pitching folks.

Jason Bourne is back.

 


Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 6 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).