Shin-Soo Choo has a career .288 batting average, 900 hits, 104 home runs and 427 RBIs. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
(PhatzRadio / SI Wire) — Free agent Shin-Soo Choo reportedly turned down a seven-year, $140 million offer from the Yankees this offseason, according to a report Wednesday from Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.
Choo’s agent, Scott Boras, reportedly declined the Yankees’ offer on his client’s behalf and asked for a deal commensurate with the one New York made with Jacoby Ellsbury, or $153 million over seven years. The Yankees pulled the offer, ultimately deciding to move forward without Choo and instead inked Carlos Beltran to a three year, $45 million contract.
The Yankees declined to comment on the reported offer to Choo, according to Passan, but multiple teams currently have active offers out to Choo, including the Houston Astros. To put the Astros’ pursuit into perspective, the Astros entire roster at points last season had less of a salary than the deal Choo is reportedly requesting. The Texas Rangers were also believed to be interested in Choo’s services but ”have shifted their focus” to Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka, according to Passan.
The 31-year-old center fielder last suited up for the Reds. He has also played for the Cleveland Indians and got his major league start with the Seattle Mariners in 2005. For a career, he has a .288 batting average, 900 hits, 104 home runs and 427 RBIs.
Report: Padres, reliever Joaquin Benoit agree to 2-year deal
(PhatzRadio / SI Wire) — Joaquin Benoit agreed to a two-year deal with the Padres on Wednesday, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
The deal is worth close to $15 million, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Benoit, 36, has pitched for three teams in 12 big league seasons. He has a 4.11 career ERA, but was 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 24 saves in 26 opportunities last season for the Tigers. He had a 2.89 ERA in three seasons with Detroit.
He also has a 2.82 ERA in 20 postseason games, but allowed David Ortiz’s grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS this past season.
MLB: Shin-Soo Choo reportedly turned down Yankees’ 7-year, $140M offer is a post from: PhatzRadio.com
