Aaron Laffey Rumors
Minor Moves: Teahen, Laffey, Wells, Patterson
We'll keep track of today's minor moves here.
- The Reds acquired infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen from the Diamondbacks for cash or a player to be named later, according to the D'Backs. Teahen, 31, was hitting .209/.321/.254 in 81 Triple-A plate appearances after struggling offensively in the Washington organization at that level last year. He was drafted in the first round by the A's in 2002 and spent five seasons with the Royals, hitting 18 home runs in '06.
- The Dodgers have signed pitcher Aaron Laffey to a minor-league deal, Chris Cotillo of CLNS Radio reports. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has confirmed the signing. Laffey has been designated for assignment by the Mets and Blue Jays so far this season, and he elected free agency yesterday instead of accepting an outright assignment from the Jays. Laffey has appeared in five big-league games so far this year.
- Rangers minor-leaguer Randy Wells has retired, FOX Sports Southwest's Anthony Andro reports (on Twitter). Wells, 30, finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2009, when he was with the Cubs. He appeared in 98 big-league games, mostly with Chicago, posting a 4.08 ERA, 5.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. He made five starts in 2013 for the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
- The Mariners have signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor-league deal, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports (on Twitter). Patterson will report to extended spring training. Patterson, 33, hit .251/.285/.410 for the Brewers' Triple-A team in Nashville in 2012. He has played for the Cubs, Orioles, Reds, Nationals, Brewers, Blue Jays and Cardinals.
Aaron Laffey Elects Free Agency
Southpaw Aaron Laffey has elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment from the Blue Jays, according to a team press release. The 28-year-old has been designated for assignment by the Mets and Jays this month, appearing in five big league games.
Laffey, whose 487 career innings rank 37th among those born in Maryland, tossed 100 2/3 Major League innings for Toronto last year while making 16 starts. He joins a free agent market for starting pitchers that also includes Dallas Braden, Dustin Moseley, Jamie Moyer, Roy Oswalt, Carl Pavano, Randy Wolf, and Carlos Zambrano.
Blue Jays Designate Aaron Laffey For Assignment
The Blue Jays have designated left-hander Aaron Laffey for assignment, MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm reports (Twitter link). The Jays will add another pitcher to their roster in Laffey's place.
Laffey is the latest waiver wire pickup to make a brief cameo with Toronto this season. The southpaw was designated for assignment by the Mets on Sunday, picked up by the Jays on Tuesday and received a spot start tonight for the club against the Yankees in place of the injured Josh Johnson. Laffey didn't fare well against the Yankees, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over just 2 2/3 innings. His short outing may have sealed his fate, as the Jays are in need of a fresh arm to help their overworked bullpen.
Laffey, 28, now has a 6.75 ERA in 12 2/3 IP with the Jays and Mets this season. He posted a 4.56 ERA over 100 2/3 innings with Toronto in 2012 and has also pitched for the Yankees, Mariners and Indians over his seven-year Major League career.
Blue Jays Claim Aaron Laffey
The waiver claim kings have struck again. The Blue Jays announced today they've claimed lefty Aaron Laffey off waivers from the Mets, transferring shortstop Jose Reyes to the 60-day DL. Laffey had been designated for assignment by the Mets on Sunday.
Laffey tossed 100 2/3 big league innings for the 2012 Jays, but lose his 40-man roster spot in October and later joined the Mets on a minor league deal. The 28-year-old made four appearances for the Mets this year.
The Blue Jays have been the most active team on the waiver wire, as recently pointed out by our own Steve Adams. MLBTR's Charlie Wilmoth recently asked if excessive adds and drops this season should lead baseball to reevaluate the way that the waiver system works.
Mets Designate Aaron Laffey For Assignment
The Mets have designated Aaron Laffey for assignment, according to Marc Carig of Newsday (on Twitter). The left-hander saw less than an inning of work against the Nationals last night as he allowed a walk and a double to set up a three-run homer from Adam LaRoche.
Laffey, 28, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in December. The veteran pitched to a 4.56 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 16 starts and six relief appearances for the Blue Jays last season. He also made eleven starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a 4.52 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.
Mets Sign Aaron Laffey
The Mets announced that they have signed left-hander Aaron Laffey to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training. The Kohm/Pasti client elected free agency from the Blue Jays in October.
Laffey, 27, pitched to a 4.56 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 16 starts and six relief appearances for Toronto last season. The veteran also made eleven starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a 4.52 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. Laffey signed a split contract with the Blue Jays right around this time last year that paid him $800K for making the big league roster.
Quick Hits: Baker, Hunter, Kershaw, LaRoche
Congratulations to Miguel Cabrera, who was named the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year. Here are some more links from around MLB on an off day for Cabrera's Tigers and the NL Champion Giants...
- The Twins will decline Scott Baker's $9.25MM option for 2013, but he remains a "high priority" for the team, Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN reports. Baker's agent has been speaking regularly with the Twins and the sides could agree to an incentive-laden one or two-year deal.
- The Twins haven't yet called to inquire about minor league free agent Aaron Laffey, according to Wolfson.
- Teams are standing by to see if the Angels make Torii Hunter a one-year qualifying offer, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (Twitter link). If the Angels make Hunter a qualifying offer and he declines, other teams will have to surrender a draft pick to sign the outfielder. Otherwise, he'll be coveted as a free agent. Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com suggested today that the Angels won't extend Hunter a qualifying offer (Twitter link).
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he will probably think about a long-term contract for Clayton Kershaw this coming offseason, Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reports (on Twitter). The left-hander's under contract for 2013 and under team control as an arbitration eligible player through 2014.
- The Nationals and Adam LaRoche have made “some progress” toward a new contract, the first baseman told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. There’s nothing definitive at this stage, but the sides have started to establish parameters for a possible new deal.
Jesse Litsch Elects Free Agency
Right-hander Jesse Litsch has elected free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to the minor leagues, the Blue Jays announced. The team reinstated Litsch from the 60-day disabled list today at which point he elected free agency.
Left-hander Aaron Laffey and right-handers Shawn Hill, Bobby Korecky and Scott Richmond also elected free agency, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). The Blue Jays had outrighted Hill, Korecky and Laffey last week.
Litsch missed the entire 2012 season due to injuries. He experienced a "career threatening" shoulder infection early in the year and underwent biceps surgery in June. The 27-year-old pitched 75 innings in 2011, posting a 4.44 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. In five MLB seasons he has a 4.16 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. Litsch earned $975K in 2012 and would have been under team control through 2013.
Blue Jays Outright Laffey, Hill, Korecky
Today's outright assignments..
- The Blue Jays announced that they have outrighted left-hander Aaron Laffey, right-hander Shawn Hill, and right-hander Bobby Korecky off of the 40-man roster. The move leaves Toronto with 37 players on the 40-man roster. Laffey, 27, would have been arbitration-eligible this offseason. That leaves Colby Rasmus, Jesse Litsch, J.A. Happ, and Rajai Davis (if his club option is declined) as the remaining arb eligible cases in Toronto.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Pettitte, Rays, Blue Jays
The last time the Yankees and Red Sox both started the season 0-3 was all the way back in 1966. Boston finished 9th in the AL while New York wound up 10th. The World Series champions that year? - the Orioles. Here's a look at what's happening in the AL East today..
- Yankees Manager Joe Girardi told reporters including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that Andy Pettitte will make the first start of his comeback attempt on Monday for Class-A Advanced Tampa. The left-hander has said that he hopes to join the big league team in May.
- Even though it's (very) early in the season, the Rays' decision to hold on to their pitching depth appears to be a wise one at the moment, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay was widely expected to add a bat by dealing Jeff Niemann or Wade Davis, but Davis has helped to provide bullpen support with Kyle Farnsworth sidelined.
- The Blue Jays promoted Aaron Laffey from Triple-A to join the bullpen, tweets Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. Laffey's minor league deal with the club calls for him to earn $800K for making the big league roster.
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