Rumors for February, 2011
Vladimir Guerrero’s nephew signs with the Mariners
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The Seattle Mariners have signed Gabriel Guerrero, Vladimir Guerrero’s nephew, for $400,000 according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
The 17-year old, is a right-handed hitter outfielder with raw power and a solid arm. Guerrero is said to have made improvements at the plate and in the field since he became eligible to sign last year.
Phillies interested in Jon Coutlangus
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the Philadelphia Phillies have been watching left-handed pitcher Jon Coutlangus. Coutllangus, who is coming back from arm surgery, was observed by the Phillies during a recent throwing session.
The 30-year-old left-hander has played only one year in the Majors, with the Reds in 2007, and he was 4-2 with a 4.39 ERA and 38 SO in 41 innings throughout 64 games.
Jered Weaver loses arbitration case to Los Angeles Angels
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The Los Angeles Angels have beat Jered Weaver in their arbitration case, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
With the arbitration decision, Weaver will now make $7.375 million. The right-hander’s arbitration decision is the first player to lose their arbitration case in 2011.
Weaver has requested a salary of $8.8 million while the Angels countered with an offer of $7.375 million. Weaver made $4.265 million in 2010 when he went 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA while striking out a league leading 233 batters.
Astros sign Brett Wallace and Jeff Fulchino
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In a formality, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that the Houston Astros have signed Brett Wallace and Jeff Fulchino to one-year contracts.
Wallace will make $418,000 while Fulchino will take home $467,000.
Both players are under team control and are not arbitration eligible. Fulchino will be arbitration eligible next season.
Yankees sign Francis Joseph to GCL club
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According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the New York Yankees have signed right handed pitcher Francis Joseph to Gulf Club League team.
Bengie Molina undecided about future
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One of the better defensive and offensive (albeit slow) players, Bengie Molina, is still available and he’s undecided about playing in 2011. When Ken Davidoff of Newsday spoke with the 36-year-old veteran catcher, Molina said he wasn’t sure about his future.
“We haven’t decided yet,” Molina said.
Molina is in talks with a few teams, but he did not identify any of them.
“There’s a couple of them,” he said, “but they’re not offering what we want, for sure. I don’t know right now what’s going to happen.”
The 36-year-old veteran backstop can still play at a high level, so teams should not dismiss him. With the Giants and the Rangers over 118 games last season, he hit .249/.297/.326 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs. This was a sharp drop from 2009 where he hit .265/.285/.442 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs over 132 games.
Had Molina won the 2011 World Series against his former team, it would have been a story book ending that would have almost guaranteed a retirement. He was looking into a backup role with the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this winter, with the idea to play with his brother Yadier Molina, unfortunately, it did not pan out.
While it means nothing in terms of future employment, Molina and his wife Jamie, recently purchased a 8,037 -square-foot home in Arizona for $2.45 million, according to The Arizona Republic. As Spring Training goes on, and injuries and team plans change, it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets thrown a Major League contract at a moment’s notice. Otheriwise, Molina can just enjoy his new house and see where the next chapter of his life takes him.
Twins open to trading Francisco Liriano
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In an article by Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune, his sources close to the Minnesota Twins say that the team is open to trading Francisco Liriano.
The 27-year-old can become a free agent after the 2012 season and with a solid 2010 season Liriano has created a better trade value for himself.
The team signed Liriano to a one-year, $4.3 million deal to avoid arbitration, but talks of a long-term deal went nowhere. Liriano is sad to have wanted a three-year, $39 million contract.
There were rumors in December that several teams called the Twins about the Liriano’s availability. One team that was interested included the New York Yankees.
Yankees get out of deal with Vizcaino
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Right-handed pitcher Luis Vizcaino, who signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees last December, sustained an injury to his Achilles which allowed the Yankees to get out of their deal with the pitcher, ,Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Vizcaino was throwing consistently in the mid-90’s during the Winter League, and that’s why the Yankees saw him as a viable candidate to make the team. Late in the Winter League season he injured his Achilles and he’s is now likely to not pitch this year.
The 36-year old last played in the Majors in 2009 with the Indians and Cubs. He was 1-3 with a 4.11 ERA and 12 SO in 15.1 innings.
Brewers and Shaun Marcum avoid arbitration
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The Milwaukee Brewers and pitcher Shaun Marcum have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $3.95 million deal plus performance bonuses, Tom Haudricourt of the Journel-Sentinel reports. Had the sides not agreed, they likely would have gone in front of an arbitrator on Thursday in Arizona.
Marcum had asked for $5 million while the Brewers countered with $3 million. The sides settled just under the midway point of $4 million.
Marcum, 29, was 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 31 starts for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. The Brewers acquired the right-hander in a December trade in exchange for Minor League prospect Brett Lawrie.
Indians sign 16-year old Kevin Calderon
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According to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer, the Indians have signed Dominican catcher Kevin Calderon as an international free agent for $80,000.
“He’s an excellent athlete,” said John Mirabelli, Indians director of scouting. “He has solid defensive skills and an above average arm. He needs strength and experience.”
The 16-year old, is currently working out at the Indians baseball academy in the Dominican. Mirabelli said Calderon will play on the Indians team in the Dominican Summer League this year.
