Rumors for January, 2011
Tigers sign William Bergolla and Victor Moreno
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The Detroit Tigers have signed Venezuelans William Bergolla and Victor Moreno to Minor League deals according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Moreno played for a MLB organization for the last time in 2007 in Triple-A (Orioles). He was 2-5 with a 5.06 ERA in 64 innings. Bergolla played 17 games in 2005 with the Reds. He hit.132 (38-5) with 1 RBI.
Phillies have no intention to trade Joe Blanton
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Philadelphia Phillies GM, Ruben Amaro, said (via Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports) that he has no intention to move right-handed starting pitcher Joe Blanton before Opening Day. There was speculation that the Phillies would move Blanton in the wake of the Cliff Lee signing.
“I don’t feel comfortable doing it,” Amaro told FOXSports.com. “He’s going to pitch for the Phillies, probably for the entire season.”
“I really don’t have to do anything,” Amaro said earlier this month when he was asked whether he will shed anymore payroll before the season starts. “We’ll see whether it makes some sense to increase some flexibility for us for later on, but at some point, as I’ve said, we’ve just got to see what we’ve got in Spring Training and move on from there.”
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported on January 11 that Blanton is penciled in as the team’s fifth starter behind the foursome of Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.
Many rival executives expect the Phillies to eat at least some of Blanton’s contract ($8.5 million in 2011 and $8.5 million in 2012) if they decide to move the right-hander. The Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers were mentioned in December as possible destinations for Blanton.
Matt Fox cleared waivers and has become a free agent
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Right handed pitcher Matt Fox has cleared waivers and he’ll become a free agent according to Maureen Mullen. Fox was moved off the Red Sox’s roster to make room for Max Ramirez on January 5.
Fox, 28, was 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in four appearances for the Minnesota Twins and Red Sox in 2010.
Nationals close to signing reliever Todd Coffey
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According to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, the Washington Nationals are close to signing right-handed relief pitcher Todd Coffey.
The 30-year-old Coffey has been mentioned as a candidate this winter for bullpen starved teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies.
Coffey was 2-4 witha 4.76 ERA in 69 relief appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010.
Aaron Heilman and Diamondbacks agree to terms
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According to a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-handed pitcher Aaron Heilman have agreed to terms. The right handed pitcher will make $2 million says Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. Heilman will have the opportunity to start with the Diamondbacks.
Yesterday, we learned that the 31-year old righty wanted to become a starter again. The first two years of his career he was mainly a starter. In 2003 he started in 13 out of is 14 appearances and in 2004 he started his five appearances. The next year, in 2005, he only started seven of his 53 appearances, and haven’t started a game since.
Heilman, finished the 2010 season with a 5-8 record and a 4.50 ERA in 72 innings throughout 70 appearances.
Yankees officially sign RHP Rafael Soriano to three-year deal
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In an announcement by the team, the New York Yankees have officially signed right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year deal.
The 31-year-old Soriano and the Yankees officially agreed to a deal on January 13, 2011 for a total contract value of $35 million. The right-handed pitcher will now setup Mariano Rivera and likely will take on the formal role of closer as soon as Rivera retires. At an average annual value of $11.67 million, Soriano will easily become the highest paid setup man in Major League Baseball.
Because Soriano is a Type-A free agent, he will cost the Yankees a first-round pick. Yankees’ GM, Brian Cashman, previously said that he was not willing to give up a draft pick, so many assumed the Yankees would be out on Soriano.
Soriano had 45 saves in 48 attempts last year for the American League East Division Champion Rays in 2010.
Cubs sign OF Lou Montanez to Minor League deal
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In a Tweet by Matt Eddy of Baseball America, he says that the Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Lou Montanez to a Minor League deal.
Montanez, 29, is a career .223/.257/.323 hitter in three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
Pirates invite five players to Spring Training
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited five players to the Major League Spring Training according to Rob Biertempfel of MLB.com.
The non-rosters invitee are catcher Tony Sanchez, outfielders Andrew Lambo and Eric Fryer, infielders Chase d’Arnaud and Brian Friday.
Brewers couldn’t reach deal with Marcum, Loe or Weeks
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According to the Brewers GM Doug Melvin (via Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel), deals couldn’t be reached with Shaun Marcum, Kameron Loe or Rickie Weeks, so numbers were exchanged. If the sides do not reach and agreement, they could find themselves going down the arbitration process.
Earlier today, we learned that the team avoided arbitration with first baseman slugger Prince Fielder by agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million deal. The deal makes Fielder the highest paid player in Brewers’ history.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports said that the sides are not close on long-term deal at this time, so the sides will likely go through the arbitration process.
Blue Jays and Jose Bautista nearly $3 million apart
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The Toronto Blue Jays and slugger Jose Bautista are far apart in terms of an agreement, according to Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press. The parties are $3 million apart, and unless an agreement can be struck, the sides may go down the arbitration process.
Davidi says that the club is offering $7.6 million and Bautista is asking for $10.5 million.
In November, last year, PRO Rumors discussed the possibility of the Jays signing Bautista to a long-term contract. The Silver Slugger underwent surgery to remove a sports hernia in October, although he said it didn’t bother him, it’s possible that it could negatively affect a long-term deal with the Blue Jays.
The Jays could wait on a long-term contract and see what Bautista does in 2011 especially with the uncertainty of his surgery. His solid 2010 campaign could be an anomaly and rather than commit to a multi-year deal, they may overpay just for the 2011 season. It’s a gamble for the Blue Jays because if Bautista can repeat his efforts, he’ll get a higher value on the free-agent market with back-to-back above average years.
