Rumors for January, 2011
Rockies sign Eliézer Alfonzo to a Minor League contract
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According to Anita Quintana, the Colorado Rockies have signed catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
The 31-year-old Alfonzo, will join his fourth big league team should he make the Rockies’ roster. He has served primarily as a backup catcher in his five-year career with the Giants, Padres and Mariners. He has a lifetime average of .236/.266/.386.
Rockies agree to two-year contract with Jason Hammel
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According to the Colorado Rockies’ official Twitter page, the team has reached an agreement with Jason Hammel on a two-year contract. The Denver Posts’ Troy E. Renck adds that the two-year deal will be $7.75 million ($3 million for 2011 and $4.75 million for 2012). After the contract is complete, Hammel will still have one year left of arbitration eligibility.
Hammel, 28, was 10-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 30 starts for the Rockies in 2010. His 2011 salary is almost a 50% increase from his $1.9 million he made last season.
Detroit Tigers likely to trade Armando Galarraga
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Who wouldn’t want to have a pitcher who threw a 28 out perfect game on their roster? It looks like a team will have that opportunity. According to the Detroit Tigers’ GM, Dave Dombrowski, the trade talks are progressing for Armando Galarraga. “I’d say [deal] is likely,” Dombrowski said, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.
The Indians, are not interested in Galarraga according to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. He says that Galarraga’s $2.3 million salary is “too rich for the Tribe”.
Rob Biertempfel of MLB.com says that the Pirates have some interest in the right handed pitcher. Biertempfel says that considering that the Pirates made a serious offer to Carl Pavano, they should have the money to commit to Galarraga’s contract.
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.
Giants and Andres Torres reach agreement on one-year deal
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The San Francisco Giants and outfielder Andres Torres have reached an agreement on a one-year deal, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. The sides agreed to a $2.2 million contract plus up to an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses to avoid the arbitration process.
“It’s always nice for me when you can get deals done without having to go into a room,” Bobby Evans, the Giants’ vice president of baseball operations, said (via the AP). “That’s what you want. When you get a deal done this early, it’s also nice for both sides.”
Baggarly first reported on January 21 that the sides were close to a deal.
Torres hit for .268 with 16 HR’s and 63 RBI’s in 507 AB’s with the Giants in 2010.
Orioles are not close to signing Vladimir Guerrero
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Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio reports that the Baltimore Orioles were closing in on a deal with outfielder/DH Vladimir Guerrero. Bowden says that Guerrero could be one of the best free agents bargains for one-year deal. However, Orioles’ president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, responded via e-mail to Steve Melewski of MANSports.com, that the report ” is not accurate.”
After Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez signed with the Rays, Guerrero arguably the best veteran power hitter available in the market. For the offensive-started Orioles, it would make sense to add somebody like Guerrero. He hit .300 with 29 HR’s and 115 RBI’s last year with the Rangers, but hasn’t raised too much interest lately.
With the season starting up shortly and rosters being filled out, a prospective employer could sign Guerrero to an affordable one-year deal with many incentives.
Giants to sign Andres Torres on Saturday
Posted by: | CommentsIn a report by Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area, a source says the San Francisco Giants will make the signing of outfielder Andres Torres official on Saturday.
A league source close to Urban says that the one-year deal will be in the $2.1 million range although no financial details have been released by the Giants.
Torres submitted on Tuesday a proposed salary of $2.6 million and the Giants countered with $1.8 million, so the deal should be close to a midpoint between the two numbers.
Toronto Blue Jays designate Rommie Lewis for assignment
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In order to make room on the team’s 40-man Roster to accommodate the additions of Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera, the Toronto Blue Jays have designated left-handed pitcher Rommie Lewis for assignment, according to the team. The other spot on the roster was freed up when the Jays sent Vernon Wells to the Angels.
Lewis, 28, pitched in 14 games in his first big league season in 2010. He went 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings pitched.
Official: Angels trade Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera to the Blue Jays for Vernon Wells
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The Los Angeles Angels have officially traded catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Vernon Wells according to releases by the teams. Several sources confirmed that no money will change hands between the teams.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports was the first to report the deal. He was also the first to report that Wells was being sent to Los Angeles.
Wells still has $86 million and four-years left on the original seven-year, $126 million contract that he signed in December 2006. He will be paid $23 million in 2011, $21 million in 2012, $21 million in 2013 and $21 million in 2014. He also had a no-trade clause on that contract, and has waived those rights to be shipped to Southern California.
Napoli is arbitration eligible. He made $3.6 million in 2010 and in arbitration figures filed earlier this week, he asked for $6.1 million and the Angels countered with $5.3 million. The final decision will likely come in the next month.
Napoli hit .238 with 26 HR’s and 68 RBI’s with the Angels in 2010.
Rivera, 32, hit .252/.312/.409 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 124 games for the Angels last season.
Well, 32, hit .273/.331/.515 with 31 home runs and 88 RBIs. His power numbers from 2010 were the best since 2006 – just before he signed his nine-figure contract.
Brewers agree to $1.25 million deal with Kameron Loe
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According to a source close to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the Milwaukee Brewers and relief pitcher Kameron Loe have agreed to a one-year contract. The deal avoids the arbitration process for both parties. He can ear an addition $115,000 in performances bonuses in addition to his $1.25 million guaranteed salary.
The right-hander was seeking $1.65 million in arbitration while the Brewers were offering $1.055.
Loe, 29, was 3-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 53 relief outings with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010.
Giants close to an agreement with Andres Torres
Posted by: | CommentsThe San Francisco Giants are close to agreeing to terms with outfielder Andres Torres according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Comcast Sports’ Mychael Urban of Comcast Sportsnet said on Friday that the deal will be done “very soon.”
Torres is the last of six arbitration-eligible players for the Giants.
Torres hit for .268 with 16 HR’s and 63 RBI’s in 507 AB’s with the Giants in 2010.
