Rumors for December, 2011
Dodgers sign Tony Gwynn Jr. to 2-year deal
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced in a press release that they have signed outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to a two-year deal. Gwynn will earn $850K in 2012 and $1.15MM in 2013 for a total of $2MM, adds Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
The 29-year-old played in 136 games for the Dodgers in 2011 where he hit .256/.308/.353 with 2 home runs and 22 RBIs.
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Tampa Bay Rays acquire RHP Burke Badenhop
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The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed relief pitcher Burke Badenhop from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Minor League catcher Jake Jefferies, Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times reports.
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Takashi Saito agrees to one-year deal with Diamondbacks
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Right-handed relief pitcher Takashi Saito has agreed to a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Heyman adds that the deal will be for one-year at $1.75mm.
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Miami Marlins sign Aaron Rowand
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The Miami Marlins have signed free agent outfielder Aaron Rowand to a Minor League deal, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Rowand was released by the San Francisco Giants in early September. He was hitting .233/.274/.347 with 4 HR’s and 21 RBI’s in 331 AB’s in 2011 at the time of his departure from San Francisco.
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Milwaukee Brewers sign Alex Gonzalez
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According to a team press release, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2013. The deal calls for Gonzalez to make $4.25mm in 2012. It also includes an option for 2013 which will vest with 525 plate appearances. His salary would be $4mm.
“Alex brings to our ballclub a veteran presence who has experienced winning in the postseason,” said executive vice president and general manager Doug Melvin. “He is a plus defender who will be a welcome addition to our infield.”
Gonzalez, 34, has a career .247 batting average with 152 home runs and 665 RBIs.
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Blue Jays acquire Ben Francisco from Phillies
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The Toronto Blue Jays have announced in a press release that they acquired outfielder Ben Francisco from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-handed pitcher Frank Gailey. To make room on their roster, the Blue Jays designated right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez for assignment.
The 30-year-old Francisco hit .244 with six home runs and drove in 34 runs over 100 games with the Phillies.
Gailey, 26 and a native of Philadelphia, was 5-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 45 relief appearances in the Blue Jays’ Minor League system in 2011.
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Red Sox interested in John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Gio Gonzalez and Wandy Rodriguez
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The Boston Red Sox are definitely looking to improve their starting rotation for 2012 and according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald they are interest in pitchers John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Gio Gonzalez and Wandy Rodriguez.
All of those pitchers are available for trades. Floyd, Danks and Gonzalez would probably cost the Red Sox top prospects, but to land Rodriguez, the team would probably have to eat most of his salary.
Danks went 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 170.1 innings and Floyd went 12-13 with a 4.37 ERA in 193.2 innings with the White Sox in 2011. Gonzalez went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 202.0 innings with the A’s in 2011. Rodriguez went 11-11 with a 3.49 ERA in 191.0 innings with the Astros in 2011.
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Aramis Ramirez agrees to deal with Brewers
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According to several sources, including Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, Aramis Ramirez has agreed to a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, pending a physical. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the deal is between $34 million and $37 million.
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Indians and Felix Pie agree to 2-year deal
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The Cleveland Indians and Felix Pie have agreed to a two-year Minor League deal with a Spring Training invitation, Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports. The deal is worth up to $1 million with performance bonuses.
Pie last played 85 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2011 where he hit .220/.264/.280, but was designated for assignment in August.. He signed a one-year contract prior to last season for $985,000.
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Manny Ramirez officially reinstated by MLB
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Major League Baseball has officially reinstated Manny Ramirez from the voluntary retirement list, Buster Olney of ESPN reports. This move will allow Ramirez to play ball in 2012 should he sign with a team. However, he will still have to serve a 50-game suspension when placed on a team’s roster.
As recently as September of 2011, Ramirez indicated that he wanted to return to professional baseball.
Back in April the controversial Ramirez retired after being informed by MLB of an “Issue” regarding the Drug Prevention program. He was looking at a 100 game suspension at the moment because it was his second offense.
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