Rumors for January, 2011
Athletics trade RHP Clayton Mortensen to Rockies
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According to the Oakland Athletics official Twitter account, the team has traded right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen to the Colorado Rockies for Minor League right-handed pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth.
Mortensen pitched six innings in one start with the Athletics in 2010. He had a 4.50 ERA. The right-hander was designated for assignment by the A’s on January 18.
The 23-year-old Hollingsworth has spent three seasons in the Colorado Minor League system. The pitcher has a lifetime 24-24 record with a 4.33 ERA over 376 innings pitched in 68 appearances (65 starts).
Joe Beimel talks are heating up, Rockies not involved
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Left handed pitcher Joe Beimel said today that he has “several irons in the fire,” but that the Rockies are not involved according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
Last week, we heard that the Boston Red Sox had inquired about Beimel. The Baltimore Orioles are looking to add pitching depth, so they could be also interested in the 33-year old hurler. “I’ve got quite a few teams interested right now, got a few offers,” Beimel said in a radio interview on MLB Network. “I’m willing to be patient like I have in the past.”
Beimel’s departure from Colorado isn’t related to his performance says Renck, but because the Rockies are planning to give left handed rookie Matt Reynolds and Franklin Morales the opportunity to be the team’s southpaws relievers.
Beimel was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 71 relief appearances for Colorado in 2010.
Royals agree to terms with LHP Jeff Francis
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Left handed pitcher Jeff Francis has agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals to a one-year deal according to a source close to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. The deal is pending a physical the source says.
Crasnick adds that Francis will earn a $2 million base salary, and $2 more million in incentives based on starts and innings pitched. Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says that Francis will earn $800,000 if he reaches 30 starts, but he can reach his first tier of incentives at 15 starts.
Earlier this month, we heard that several teams were interested in Francis, but no offers were in front of him. Among those teams were the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and New York Yankees.
Francis missed all of 2009 due to shoulder surgery, and his comeback year was not too impressive. Francis posted a 5.00 ERA in 104 1/3 innings for the Colorado Rockies in 2010, and you can probably blame the shoulder for his poor comeback.
While the terms of the deal have yet to become available, it’s likely that the contract is incentive-based – meaning that he has a low base salary, but there are incentives that could push the money higher if he achieves statistics such as innings pitched or games started. The Rockies had a 2011 team option for $7.5 million, but that was obviously declined.
Rockies sign OF Willy Taveras to a Minor League contract
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The Colorado Rockies have announced via their Twitter account, that the team has signed outfielder Willy Taveras to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Taveras, 29, played in 27 games for the Washington Nationals in 2010 while hitting .200/.243/.257. He also spent time the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers organizations last season.
Diamondbacks sign Micah Owings to a Minor League contract
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed right-handed pitcher Micah Owings to a Minor League contract.
According to the team’s GMKevin Towers, Owings will be used at first base as well as a pitcher. (via Bob Nightengale of USAToday)
He returns to Arizona after spending two years with the Reds. The 28-year-oldwas 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 relief appearances for Cincinnati in 2010.
Diamondbacks acquire Armando Galarraga from the Tigers
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports the Detroit Tigers have traded Armando Galarraga to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right handed pitcher Kevin Eichhorn and left handed pitcher Ryan Robowski.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Diamondbacks have designated Rafael Rodriguez for assignment according to the team’s press release.
Jason Beck of MLB.com adds that the Tigers won’t be responsible for any of Galarraga’s contract, whether he makes the team or not.
“I understand it’s a business. I really do,” said Galarraga. “And I don’t have anything against anybody. I wish Detroit nothing but the best… I’m pretty good at turning the page. That’s what I’m going to do.” (via Beck’s Twitter Account)
Earlier today Beck said that the deal involving Galarraga had been more a matter of “when” than “if” since Saturday.
A couple of days ago, we learned that the Diamondbacks were showing a strong interest in Galarraga. The teams are said to be exchanging names and right-hander Kevin Eichorn has been discussed.
Galarraga, 28, agreed to a $2.3 million contract on January 17 to avoid the arbitration process with the Tigers. However, he was designated for assignment the next day.
The pitcher shot to worldwide fame for his sportsmanship that he displayed after an umpire’s error cost him a perfect game last season. He finished the year at 4-9 with a 4.49 ERA. He is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time in his career as a Super Two player. The right-hander will continue to be under team control through the 2013 season.
Rangers open to conversations with Vladimir Guerrero
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The Texas Rangers are still looking to improve their lineup despite their failed attempt to land Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez.
“If we can still look to improve we will,” Rangers GM, Jon Daniels said. “One of the things we have looked at recently — it’s no secret we were in on Thome — would be a veteran hitter to complement the rest of the lineup. How does that guy fit exactly? It’s one of those things you might not be able to perfectly define in January.”
Daniels said that Vladimir Guerrero wasn’t a possibility because he would likely want to have a full-time role. Nolan Ryan, on the other hand still thinks Guerrero could be a possibility according to the Dallas Morning News, and Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said that the Rangers re-opened door to talking to him after losing Thome and Ramirez.
Guerrero hit .300 with 29 HR’s and 115 RBI’s last year with the Rangers.
Tampa Bay Rays agree to terms with Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez
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According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez Damon will make $5.25 million plus $750,000 in attendance bonuses. Ramirez will make $2 million from the Rays.
Although the announcement of the agreement first broke on Friday, Damon and Ramirez’s deals may not be finalized until next week according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The scheduling of the visits to St. Petersburg from Ramirez and Damon to take their physical and to finalize paperwork, could delay the official announcement, and any comment from the Rays on the additions says Topkin.
It’s assumed that Damon will play left field, a position vacated after Carl Crawford left in December, while Ramirez becomes the team’s full-time designated hitter with the possibility to platoon in the outfield when needed.
On Friday morning, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports was the first to report that the Rays and Damon were closing in on a deal. Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes reported on Thursday that Ramirez could sign with a team by the end of this week with the Rays being one of the more aggressive suitors. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports speculated that one cannot rule out the signing of Vladimir Guerrero by the Rays even though they have Damon and Ramirez.
Nationals designate RHP Shairon Martis for assignment
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In a Tweet by the Washington Nationals, the team has designated right-handed pitcher Shairon Martis for assignment. The move was done because the contract for Jerry Hairston Jr. was officially approved today.
Martis, 23, has not pitched in the Majors since 2009. He has a career 6-6 record with a 5.33 ERA in 20 appearances (19 starts) over 106 1/3 innings pitched.
Diamondbacks are likely to land Armando Galarraga
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According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated the Arizona Diamondbacks are likely to land right handed pitcher Armando Galarraga.
Jason Beck of MLB.com says the deal has been more a matter of “when” than “if” since Saturday.
If the deal gets completed, the Diamondbacks will have to pick up most of Galarraga’s $2.3 million contract if he makes the team. If he doesn’t make the team, the Diamondbacks could still release him in Spring Training and owe him just a fraction of that as termination pay says Beck. That pay will be just under $380,000 if he’s released by March 15 or $569,000 if he’s released at the end of Spring Training (via MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert).
A couple of days ago, we learned that the Diamondbacks were showing a strong interest in Galarraga. The teams are said to be exchanging names and right-hander Kevin Eichorn has been discussed.
Galarraga, 28, agreed to a $2.3 million contract on January 17 to avoid the arbitration process with the Tigers. However, he was designated for assignment the next day.
The pitcher shot to worldwide fame for his sportsmanship that he displayed after an umpire’s error cost him a perfect game last season. He finished the year at 4-9 with a 4.49 ERA. He is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time in his career as a Super Two player. The right-hander will continue to be under team control through the 2013 season.
