Rumors for December, 2010
Endy Chavez signs a Minor League deal with the Rangers
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Venezuelan ourfielder Endy Chavez has signed a Minor League deal with the Texas Rangers, according to FOXSports Jon Paul Morosi.
Rockies sign Mike Jacobs to a Minor League deal
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According to Denver Post’s Troy Renck the Colorado Rockies have signed first baseman Mike Jacobs to a Minor League Deal. Renck adds that Jacobs will make $14,000 a month in minors and $700,000 if in the Majors.
Jacobs will recieve an invitation to the Major League Spring Training. The 30-year old played with the Mets in 2010, he hit .208/.296/.375 with 1 HR and 2 RBI’s in just seven games.
Adam LaRoche close to signing with Baltimore Orioles
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According to a source close to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse, free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche is close to signing with the Baltimore Orioles. However, a source close to MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli says the deal is not close on finalizing yet.
Buster Olney of ESPN adds that LaRoche is looking for a three-year deal.
MASN’s Jen Royle says that the three-year offer for LaRoche in believed to be inin the $16-18 million range or more. He made $4.5 million last season.
The sides have been discussing a deal over the past couple of weeks. As of December 9th, no formal offers had been made yet, but Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun said that it’s only a matter of time.
If LaRoche falls through, the Orioles could go after free agent Derrek Lee. The Orioles went as far as checking Lee’s medical records last week.
LaRoche, 31, hit .261/.320/.468 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Diamondbacks in 2010, but his big drawback are his strikeouts. The left-handed hitter struck out 172 times last season.
Seth McClung has signed split contract with Rangers
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According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, right-handed pitcher Seth McClung has signed a split contract with the Texas Rangers. McClung will get a chance to compete for a position in the team’s rotation this Spring.
Crasnick reports that McClung’s dealwill pay him $700,000 if he makes big league roster. He can earn $700,000 in bonuses based on starts.
A split contract will pay McClung different amounts depending on whether or not he plays with the big league club or plays in the Rangers’ Minor League system.
The 29-year-old McClung last played in 2009 with the Milwaukee Brewers. In a six-year career, he is 26-34 with a a 5.46 ERA in 177 appearances (51 starts).
Los Angeles Angels make significant offer to Adrian Beltre
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According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, the Angels have made a “significant offer” to free agent Adrian Beltre, but the offer has not been accepted. Beltre would make sense in Los Angeles since he’s familiar with the area given the time he spent with the Dodgers, and the fact that he lives in the LA area.
DiGiovanna adds that the Angels offer is believed to be in the five-year, $70-million range.
During the Winter Meetings, DiGiovanna said the Angels had “serious” interest in the third baseman.
The Oakland Athletics had reportedly offered the third baseman a five-year, $64 million deal sometime last month, but have since gone in a different direction after Beltre has turned them down twice in as many years.
Beltre was hoping to return to the Boston Red Sox, but with their sudden influx of new talent via free agency and trades, it’s highly unlikely that the team is going to revisit Beltre.
Red Sox agree to terms with Dan Wheeler
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The Boston Red Sox have added one more arm to their bullpen. This time is the right handed pitcher Dan Wheeler, who has agreed to terms with Boston according to ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com adds that the deal is for one year, with a club option for 2012 that would vest if he makes at least 65 appearances.
Wheeler has passed his physical and the deal is done, it will be announced shortly (via Speier).
Wheeler’s deal will be for $3 million, with a $3 million option (no buyout). It could be a $3.25 million option if he appears in at least 75 games in 2011, says Speier.
Athletics and Hideki Matsui agree on a 1 year, $4.25 million deal
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The Oakland Athletics and designated hitter/outfielder Hideki Matsui agreed to a one-year deal according to a team press release.
NPB Tracker adds that Matsui will have a limited no-trade clause. He can block trades to Seattle, Baltimore, Minnesota, Toronto, Cleveland and Kansas City.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report that the sides were close to a deal. She added that Matsui’s physical with the team was set for Tuesday morning with a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the deal between Matsui and the Athletics is for one-year, $4.25 million. The San Francisco Chronicle adds that there are some incentives that can lift the amount.
The A’s and Matsui have been linked for quite some time now. However, the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays had been interested in the 36-year-old designated hitter.
Sandy Alderson to discuss Omar Minaya’s future with Mets
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New York Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson, plans to speak with former GM, Omar Minaya, after the New Year about a potential new role with the organization, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
Minaya plans to remain in baseball in some capacity next seasons, says that he has multiple offers on the table, but nothing is definite.
“We’ll sit down sometime after the New Year and talk,” Minaya said.
Minaya is under contract with the Mets for two more years for approximately $1.1 million per year.
“Well, I’d like to hear from him first,” Alderson said. “But, to reiterate, he and I have been friends for a long time. I have great respect for him as a baseball person. There’s always room for somebody with his capabilities.”
Edgar Renteria not happy with Giants $1MM offer
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In an interview with ESPNdeportes.com, as reported by Enrique Rojas, 2010 World Series MVP, Edgar Renteria, was not too happy with the San Francisco Giant’s $1 million contract offer.
“That offer from the Giants was a lack of respect. A total disrespect,” Renteria told ESPNdeportes.com Thursday from Colombia.
“To play for a million dollars, I’d rather stay with my private business and share more time with my family,” he said. “Thank God I’m well off financially and my money is well invested.”
Giants assistant GM, Bobby Evans said the Giants are looking at all options for a backukp shortstop, and the team has not given up on bringing Renteria back for 2011, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Evans said he was told by Barry Meister, Renteria’s agent, that the article in ESPNDeportes was “not accurrate”.
“Something doesn’t add up when you read Renteria’s quotes and yet the agent insists that Edgar has no problem with the Giants,” Evans said.
Earlier this month, the Giants offered Renteria a contract believed to be in the $1 million range to be the team’s utility infielder next year. He’s previously said that he would like to return to the Giants.
Renteria said San Francisco and three other teams were possibilities for 2011, but he didn’t give details. It’s believed that the Florida Marlins are strong contenders for Renteria’s services.
“I have received at least another offer since I was a free agent, but it wasn’t what I’m looking for to continue playing,” Renteria said. “If I got a good offer, I’m playing, and if not, it’s better to stay at home.”
The Giants declined their $10.5 million team option in early November. Renteria was paid a $500,000 buyout at the time.
Milwaukee Brewers sign Carlos Gomez to one-year deal
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According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed Carlos Gomez to a one-year deal and thus avoid arbitration.
Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel adds that Gomez will receive $1.5 million in 2011, a raise from $1.1 million that he earned in 2010.
Gomez, 25, hit .247/.298/.357 in 97 games for the Brewers in 2010.
