Rumors for January, 2011
Dodgers officially sign Gabe Kapler to a Minor League deal
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According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers have officially signed veteran outfielder Gabe Kapler to a Minor League deal. The deal will include an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
The 34-year old Kapler played 59 games in 2010 with the Rays. He hit .210/.288/.290 with 2 HR’s and 14 RBI’s.
Gil Meche Announces Retirement
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In a released statement by the Kansas City Royals, Gil Meche has announced his retirement. Sources close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports told him that Meche will indeed forfeit the $12 million salary he was going to receive from the Royals in 2011.
“After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life I have decided to retire from baseball. As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I’ve ever faced, but it’s not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore. I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract. I can’t thank the Kansas City Royals and their fans enough for my four seasons there and if I have any regret, it’s that we weren’t able to accomplish on the field what the goal was when I signed there.”
The 32-year-old had a career 84-83 record with a 4.49 ERA in 10 Major League seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals.
Padres sign catcher Gregg Zaun to a Minor League contract
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In a Tweet by MLB.com’s Corey Brock, he reports that the San Diego Padres have signed veteran catcher Gregg Zaun to a Minor League contract.
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune was the first to report that the sides were closing in on a deal on January 13. He indicated that Zaun would compete for the backup catching job with Rob Johnson and Guillermo Quiroz.
The 39-year-old Zaun has been the target of several teams this winter including the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics. A previous report indicated that Zaun’s preference was Tampa.
The veteran catcher just finished his 16th season in the Major Leagues, and he has said he would like to come back for the 2011 season. Before he went down with a shoulder injury in 2010, he was hitting .265/.350/.392 with 2 home runs and 14 RBIs in 28 games for the Brewers. Milwaukee declined his $2.25 million option after the season, they opted to pay a $250,000 buyout instead.
Tigers designate Armando Galarraga for assignment
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In a Tweet by Jason Beck of MLB.com, the Detroit Tigers unexpectedly have designated Armando Galarraga for assignment. The sides agreed to a $2.3 million contract on January 17 to avoid arbitration.
The 28-year-old Galarraga 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. Galarraga will continue to be under team control through the 2013 season.
Oakland Athletics officially agree to terms with Grant Balfour
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According to a team press release, the Oakland Athletics have officially agree to terms with Grant Balfour.
The sides agreed to a two-year, $8.1 million deal with an option year on January 14. Balfour will earn $3.75 million in 2011, $4 million in 2012 and the club option for 2013 is $4.5 million with a $350,000 buyout.
The right-handed pitcher is a Type-A free agent, so the Tampa Bay Rays will receive Oakland’s second-round pick (first-round is protected) in addition to a supplemental pick. With these picks, the Rays will have 11 of the top 75 picks in the 2011 MLB draft.
Balfour was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 53.1 innings with the Rays in 2010.
Buster Olney of ESPN, Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports and the Associated Press contributed to the reporting of the deal.
Chicago White Sox claim RHP Phil Humber from Athletics
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In a Tweet by Scott Reifert, vice president of the Chicago White Sox, he says that the team has claimed right-handed pitcher Phil Humber off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.
In a parallel move, the A’s designated Clayton Mortensen for assignment, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Twins avoid arbitration with Capps and Perkins
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The Minnesota Twins have avoided arbitration with right handed pitcher Matt Capps and left handed pitcher Glen Perkins by agreeing to one-year deals according to Joe Christensen of the Star Trinune. Capps will earn $7.15 million in 2011, while Perkins will earn $700,000.
Capps, 26 was 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA and 42 saves in 2010 with the Twins and Nationals combined.
Indians agree to a one-year deal with Rafael Perez
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The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year deal with left handed pitcher Rafael Perez according to the team’s official Twitter account. The Indians will avoid arbitration with Perez. The left handed hitter will earn $1.33 million in 2011 says Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.
Perez was 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 61 innings throughout 70 appearances with the Indians in 2010.
Indians avoid arbitration with OF Shin-Soo Choo
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The Cleveland Indians have avoided going to arbitration with outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Paul Hoynes of The Plain-Dealer adds that the deal is valued at $3.975 million.
Diamondbacks sign Stephen Drew to two-year, $13.75MM deal
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, a source says that the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Stephen Drew to a two-year, $13.75 million deal. The contract includes a mutual option for 2013.
