Rumors for December, 2010
Brewers sign Maysonet and Riggans to Minor League contracts
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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed shortstop Edwin Maysonet and catcher Shawn Riggans to Minor League deals. Both players have received invitations to Major League Spring Training.
Maysonet, 29, spent his Major League career with the Houston Astros. In two season, he hit .276/.317/.342 over 46 games.
The 30-year-old Riggans has been with the Tampa Bays Rays since 2006. He has compiled a .202/.266/.356 over 64 career Major League games.
Angels showing interest in Scott Podsednik
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After failing to land Carl Crawford, the Angels have been showing some interest in speedy left fielder Scott Podsednik according to Major League sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.
The Angels are in need of a leadoff man, and Rosenthal believes that they could be a better fit for Podsednik, than the Dodgers who he has been linked to. Rosanthal says that the Dodgers would prefer a right-handed hitter to go with Jay Gibbons in left field, and might wait until spring training to address that need.
Podsednik, 34, hit .297/.342/.382 with 6 HR and 51 RBI’s, he also stole 35 bases in 50 attempts.
Cubs and Rangers front runners for Brandon Webb
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In a Tweet by Bill Ladson of MLB.com, he mentions the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers have jumped ahead of the Washington Nationals for free agent Brandon Webb.
The Nationals were believed to be a strong contender for Webb. The 2006 Cy Young Award winner has a relationship with Nat’s GM Mike Rizzo since Rizzo drafted Webb while he was the Diamondback’s scouting director in 2000. The two are close friends.
Webb’s agent, Jonathan Maurer, previously has said that he would seek a contract in the $7.5 million range this winter
Orlando Hudson officially agrees with Padres
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the San Diego Padres and free agent second baseman, Orlando Hudson, have agreed to a two-year, $11.5 million deal pending a physical. The deal was made official on December 17, 2010, per a team press release.
The deal will pay Hudson $4 million in 2011, $5.5 million in 2012 and an $8 million mutual option for 2013 or a $2 million buyout.
Hudson announced his likelihood to sign with the Padres on MLB Network Radio:
“We got 5 teams been calling so far, 2 year deal, 3 year deal, so things have been really good… right now we probably will end up going to San Diego… Great place, great atmosphere, unbelievable ballpark”
Hudson, 33, hit .268/.338/.372 in his only year with the Twins in 2010. If he ends up the Padres, he returns to the National League West where he spent four of his nine Major League seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Information from Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press was used in this post.
Astros officially sign Bill Hall
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The Houston Astros have officially signed Bill Hallto a one-year $3 million contract, according to the Astros Sr. Director of Social Media Alyson Footer. Hall’s contract will include a $4 million option for 2012, with a $250,000 buyout.
Hall, 30, hit .247/.316/.456 with the Boston Red Sox in 2010. Although he will be the Astros’ everyday second baseman, he gives them the flexibility to play him almost anywhere. Hall played six defensive positions in 2010 (all three outfield positions, third base, shortstop and second base).
Rockies sign Billy Buckner to a Minor League deal
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According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com the Colorado Rockies have signed right handed pitcher Billy Buckner to a Minor League deal. The deal will include invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
Buckner, 27, has a career record of 6-11 with 6.25 ERA in 36 games in the Majors, 21 of them were starts.
Pirates agree to a Minor League deal with Josh Fields
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with infielder Josh Fields according to the team’s official Twitter account. Fields will recieve an invitation to the Major League Spring Training camp.
Chicago White Sox sign Jesse Crain to three-year deal
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In a Tweet by Peter Gammons, he says the Chicago White Sox have a three-year deal with right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Crain. The deal became official on December 20, 2010, in a Tweet by Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Crain will make $4 million in 2011 and $4.5 million per season in 2012 and 2013 for a total of $13 million.
Crain was rumored to be targeted by the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays this winter. Crain was born in Toronto, so many believed that he would head north to Toronto.
The 29-year-old Crain was 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 71 appearances for the Minnesota Twins in 2010. He had an affordable $2 million contract with Minnesota in 2010, and with so many teams interested in him, he could command a nice raise. Crain is a Type-B free agent and the Twins offered him salary arbitration last month, so the Twins will receive a supplemental pick.
Chan Ho Park agrees to a one-year deal with the Orix Buffaloes
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Veteran hurler Chan Ho Park has agreed to a one-year deal with the Orix Buffaloes according to the team’s official Twitter account.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that Park got just over $1 million to sign with Orix.
As recent as mid-November, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Park had mutual interest in reuniting for the upcoming season.
“We’ve expressed some interest and he has expressed some interest,” Pirates’ GM Neal Huntington said. “But again, it’s got to be the right fit for him, and it has to be the right fit for us. We’re working through what that might be or may not be.”
Park was claimed off of waivers by the Pirates in August. The New York Yankees were trying to trade Park before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, but ended up designating him for assignment on July 31.
Indians sign Austins Kearns to one-year deal
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According to the official Twitter account of the Cleveland Indians, the team has signed outfielder Austin Kearns to a one-year Major League contract for 2010. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com adds that the deal is worth $1.3 million plus incentives.
Kearns, 30, spent the beginning of the 2010 season with the Indians before he was traded to the New York Yankees in a July trade deadline deal. In 120 games for the Indians and Yankees he hit .263/.315/.395 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs.
