Rumors for January, 2011
Padres officially agree to terms with INF Jorge Cantu
Posted by: | Comments
In a team press release, the San Diego Padres officially announce that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Jorge Cantu.
Cantu and the Padres agreed to terms on a $850,000, one-year Major League contract on January 24, 2011, as reported by FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal and XX1090 Sports Radio’s Marty Caswell.
Stephen Goff of the Houston Examiner first reported that Cantu was speaking with the Padres, and they were one of the favorites to land the free agent slugger. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated added the next day that the sides were close to a deal, but for a Minor League contract.
Cantu hit .256 with 11 HR’s and 56 RBI’s in 2010 with the Florida Marlins and the American League Champions Texas Rangers.
Rockies sign catcher Chad Moeller to Minor League contract
Posted by: | Comments
The Colorado Rockies have signed free agent catcher Chad Moeller to a Minor League contract, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
Moeller, 35, played in nine games for the New York Yankees in 2010 where he hit .214/.267/.429 in 15 plate appearances. The 11-year veteran is a lifetime, .226/.288/.352 hitter.
Padres sign RHP Greg Burke to a Minor League contract
Posted by: | Comments
The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Greg Burke to a Minor League contract, according to a team press release.
Burke, 28, was 3-3 in 48 relief appearances for the Padres in 2009. He posted a 4.14 ERA in that season.
Who are the top remaining MLB free agents?
Posted by: | Comments
With Spring Training ready to begin in less than 30 days, a few big names are still unemployed. There are a few game changers that are available for teams trying to round out their rosters, including Andy Pettitte, Vladimir Guerrero and Nick Johnson, so if you’re not satisfied with your team’s off season moves, get on the phone with your GM and demand they place an offer.
First Baseman
Nick Johnson
Troy Glaus
Russell Branyan
Mark Kotsay
Second basemen
Felipe Lopez
Third baseman
Pedro Feliz
Willy Aybar
Shortstop
Orlando Cabrerra
Outfielder
Ryan Church
Jose Guillen
Lastings Milledge
Designated Hitter
Vladimir Guerrero
Right-handed pitcher
Jeremy Bonderman
Kevin Millwood
Freddy Garcia
Mike MacDougal
Alfredo Aceves
Justin Duchscherer
Left-handed pitcher
Andy Pettitte
Joe Beimel
Ron Mahay
Mark Hendrickson
Angels begin conversations with Jered Weaver about a contract extension
Posted by: | Comments
The Los Angeles Angels and right handed pitcher Jered Weaver have opened discussions about a long term contract extension according to the Angels’ owner, Arte Moreno (via Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com).
The 28-year old hurler would be a free agent after the 2012 season. Earlier this month, both sides exchanged arbitration figures about a one-year deal, but they were more than $1 million apart. Weaver is asking for $8.8 million while the Angels have offered $7.45 million. The right hander made $4.63 million last year.
Angels GM Tony Reagins said it’s too early to predict if both parts could reach to a long term agreement before an arbitration hearing.
“I have no idea,” Reagins said. “Any time you have dialogue, it’s positive. We’ll see.”
There’s still hope for the Angels to reach an agreement with Weaver given the fact that another Scott Boras client, Carlos Gonzalez, got a seven-year, $80 million contract extension with the Rockies.
Weaver was 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA in 34 starts with Angels in 2010.
Diamondbacks agree to terms with Miguel Montero
Posted by: | Comments
According to a team press release, the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with Miguel Montero. The deal avoids the arbitration process for both parties.
Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com confirms that the deal is for $3.2 million.
Montero, 27, has spent his entire five-year, Major League career with the Diamondbacks. He is a lifetime .267/.332/.443 hitter in 373 games.
Rockies sign Alfredo Amezaga to a Minor League deal
Posted by: | Comments
The Colorado Rockies have signed infielder/ outfielder Alfredo Amezaga to a Minor League deal according to the team’s official Twitter account. He will receive an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports that Amezaga will make $750,000 if he makes the big league club plus an additional $350,000 in incentives.
Earlier today, we learned that the Rockies were looking to add some infielder help and Amezaga was one of the possibilities.
Amezaga played in the Majors for the last time in 2009 with the Marlins. He hit .217/.267/.261 with 5 RBI’s.
There’s a very strong possibility that Pettitte pitches in 2011
Posted by: | Comments
According to a source close to Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com, Andy Pettitte, is doing his usual preseason workouts and has had no physical issues thus far. So there’s a “very strong possibility” that the lefty will pitch in 2011.
Jon Heyman of Sports llustrated says that the Yankees offer to Pettitte is or will be $12 million.
Earlier today, there were rumors that Pettitte could be waiting for the court case involving former teammate Roger Clemens to be over with before he announces his return to baseball for 2011. Calcaterra’s source says though, that Pettitte’s hesitation to confirm that he is coming back for the upcoming season is in no way connected to it.
A hearing is scheduled for next week regarding how Clemens can defend himself against Pettitte. Pettitte claims that Clemens admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs to him. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated points out that rumors regarding Pettitte’s announcement may have been delayed because of his involvement in the trial, but his source says that is not the case.
Many do believe that the left-hander is coming back next season.
“Why would he be working out if he’s not playing?” one of Heyman’s sources said.
Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, recently said that Pettitte is getting in to baseball shape in the event he wants to pitch this upcoming season.
“I believe he is throwing,” Girardi said, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “He wants to be prepared, whatever his decision is.”
Marlins scouting Cuban Yasiel Balaguer
Posted by: | Comments
According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Florida Marlins are interested in Yasiel Balaguer, a Cuban outfielder represented by Carlos Perez of Miami Sports Consulting.
The Marlins are watching a Wednesday workout for the Cuban outfielder says Frisaro. Balaguer arrived in Miami in November after leaving Cuba while traveling to Mexico.
The Miami News Times says that Balaguer is looking for a $18 million to $20 million range deal (via Frisaro).
There are conflicting reports on the outfielder’s talents according to Frisaro. The Miami Herald has stated that he is “one of the biggest promising stars of Cuban baseball,” and Baseball America considers him as “solid” while having “average tools.”
Frisaro adds that Balaguer is expected to work out for the Mariners and Cubs as well.
Wandy Rodriguez passes physical, deal becomes official
Posted by: | Comments
The left handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez has passed his physical and his three-year, $34 million deal with the Astros becomes official according to Alyson Footer, the Astros Sr. Director of Social Media.
Rodriguez and the Astros agreed to terms yesterday.
The left handed pitcher will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus, $7 million in 2011, $10 million in 2012, $13 million in 2013 and a $13 million vesting option for 2014 with a $2.5 million buyout.
Back in November, we learned that the Astros started to talk about a multi-year deal with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is under team control through the 2011 season. He went 11-12 with a 3.60 ERA last season.
