Vizcaino Could Land Major League Deal

According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the Indians' signing of Luis Vizcaino is not yet official because the club is "in the process of deciding if he's ready to help their beleaguered bullpen immediately."

Indians Release Salas, DFA Chulk

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the Indians released Juan Salas and designated Vinnie Chulk for assignment. Reliever Matt Herges was called up, Rafael Perez was demoted and today the Indians added Luis Vizcaino as they revamp their bullpen.

Indians To Sign Luis Vizcaino

1:08pm: MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports that the Indians could announce a move this afternoon.

FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports heard that the Indians intend to sign Vizcaino. He will either join the team immediately or tune up in the minor leagues first. The Indians' pitching struggled again last night, allowing 12 runs without recording an out at one point.

THURSDAY, 1:43pm: The Twitter post from Gaylord Sports linked below has been removed.

10:46am: According to Luis Vizcaino's agency Gaylord Sports, the reliever has been acquired by the Indians.  The Cubs designated Vizcaino for assignment on April 23rd to make room for Jeff Samardzija.  Vizcaino is owed $4MM, and presumably the Cubs will assume $3.6MM of that.  They released him at some point, so he signed with Cleveland as a free agent.

The Cubs jettisoned Vizcaino after 3.6 scoreless innings.  It seems they never wanted him; acquiring him was just a way to move some of Jason Marquis' salary.

Odds & Ends: Perez, D'Backs, Baez

Links for Monday...

• RotoAuthority looks more closely at the Pirates' MLB-best rotation.
• Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Marlins won't be pursuing Luis Vizcaino.
• On Saturday, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wrote that the Rangers don't expect to be in on Pedro Martinez, but could have interest in Vizcaino for a Triple A job.
• Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts has a quick American League Elias rankings preview.
• Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post thinks Oliver Perez may be headed to the bullpen or even Triple A if he'll consent.  Perez has pitched poorly in three of his four starts.  He's had streaks like this before, though.
• With Brandon Webb out for at least six weeks, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wonders if the Diamondbacks will be sellers this summer.
• Could Danys Baez have midseason trade value?  Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun thinks it's possible, despite the pitcher's $5.5MM salary.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks back at last summer's Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte deal with the Pirates.
• Murray Chass thinks Ned Colletti deserves a contract extension.  Do you agree?
• ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. wonders who will be the first American-born player to exploit a draft loophole by dropping out of high school and living in another country for a year to become a free agent.

Odds & Ends: Minaya, Bradley, McClain

Links for Friday...

• Yahoo's Gordon Edes on what might've been: Alex Rodriguez in Boston.
• MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone interviewed GM Omar Minaya.
• Milton Bradley is not a fan of the Chicago media.  He explained why in an exclusive chat with MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
• Rob Bradford of WEEI talks about the scarcity of middle-of-the-order bats on the free agent market, as it relates to the Red Sox.
• Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wonders if Luis Vizcaino could return to the White Sox.
• Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Sponichi report indicating that the Hiroshima Carp are in contract talks with minor league veteran Scott McClain.
• Mike Thomas of The Herald News caught up with Shea Hillenbrand and got the player's take on the various incidents in his career.

Luis Vizcaino Designated For Assignment

9:41am: Vizcaino has been designated for assignment, according to ESPN's Bruce Levine.  Levine says Cubs GM Jim Hendry "tried to be creative with other teams, including the Washington Nationals, and tried to save some money before having to release Vizcaino."

Assuming Vizcaino signs elsewhere at the minimum salary, that'll be $3.6MM lost for the Cubs.  They also sent $875K to Colorado in the January Jason Marquis deal.  So the Cubs will end up paying $4.475MM rather than Marquis' $9.875MM salary.

THURSDAY, 9:04am: Sullivan seems a little more sure, writing today that Vizcaino "is expected to be released to make room for Samardzija."

WEDNESDAY, 4:56pm: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs will call up pitcher Jeff Samardzija on Thursday to join the bullpen.  Sullivan adds that Milton Bradley is back in the lineup (ie not headed for the DL), and lefties Neal Cotts and Sean Marshall won't be sent down.  For Sullivan, it all adds up to the possibility that reliever Luis Vizcaino may be released.  To do so, the Cubs would have to assume the $4MM owed to him.

Odds & Ends: Crosby, Vizcaino, Andruw

Links for Tuesday...

• Chat today, 2pm CST.
• RotoAuthority sums up the stats you should target in each category for your fantasy league.
• The Braves released pitcher Anthony Lerew, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Rany Jazayerli says the Royals will be better just by subtracting Ross Gload, Tony Pena Jr., and Joey Gathright.  Here's my Offseason In Review for the club, if you're interested.
• A's manager Bob Geren "chuckled and said no" when asked if Bobby Crosby is being showcased at third base for the Yankees, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Crosby is learning third in part because Eric Chavez is injured again.
• Speaking of Crosby, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the Cubs could work out a deal involving reliever Luis Vizcaino.  Despite the $4MM owed to Vizcaino, he's not a lock for the Cubs' bullpen.  We learned last week that the Cubs do not appear interested in Crosby.
• Slusser also has an article about young A's pitcher Michael Ynoa, who believes he can be in the Majors in two years at age 19.
• Andruw Jones apologized to Dodgers fans in this Bill Plaschke article.
• Talking to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sees Jayson Werth missing no more than 15-20 games this year.  Geoff Jenkins, with $8MM left on his contract, looks like the odd man out.

Marquis To Rockies Deal Finalized

TUESDAY, 3:21pm: The Marquis for Vizcaino swap has been finalized.  Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs are sending $875K to the Rockies.  Jim Hendry said today he hopes to add another pitcher before Opening Day.

MONDAY, 9:55pm: The Chicago Tribune's Dave van Dyck says the Cubs are "actively seeking more live arms, whether it be Jake Peavy or another starter to replace the innings of Marquis."

5:05pm: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis is close to becoming a Colorado Rockies starter, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.

Muskat believes the deal, which will ship Rockies reliever Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs, will be finalized Tuesday.  The move will free up Cubs money for the newly-acquired Milton Bradley.

Marquis (11-9, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled to make $9.875MM in 2009, the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Cubs in December 2006. The Cubs are expected to pay $1MM of Marquis' '09 salary; Vizcaino will make $4MM this year, Muskat continued.

Muskat also notes that moving Marquis does not mean the Cubs will resume talks with the Padres regarding Jake Peavy, but more likely, Sean Marshall will fill the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation.

Marquis For Vizcaino Deal Close

7:28pm: Ken Rosenthal confirms what most people are saying--that this deal is close, but not yet official.

7:11pm: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald calls the deal "possible, but not done yet." Additionally, says Miles, the deal is apparently "more in the Rockies' hands than the Cubs' right now."

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times says a deal is "close," and suggests a Milton Bradley signing may be the next move for the Cubs.

6:20pm: This story has been confirmed by Troy Renck of the Denver Post. 

While the deal likely won't be official until next week, it looks like the Cubs will be paying $1MM of Marquis' salary in 2009. That makes a net reduction of roughly $5MM in payroll for the Cubs.

4:44pm: According to ESPN's Steve Phillips, the Cubs and Rockies are close to a swap of starter Jason Marquis for reliever Luis Vizcaino (saw it scroll across the screen on ESPN2).  Marquis is set to earn $9.875MM in '09, while Vizcaino will make $3.5MM plus a $4MM option for 2010 with a $500K buyout.

Marquis, 30, tossed 167 innings of 4.53 ball in 2008.  He did roughly the same in '07.  Vizcaino, 34, posted a 5.28 ERA in 46 innings.  He dealt with a strained shoulder and later expressed concerns that he didn't pitch enough.  His velocity was up from '07 and he whiffed more than a batter per inning, but he was done in by walks and home runs.  Vizcaino added a DUI to his resume in October.

Marquis Unlikely For Rockies

6:47pm: Troy Renck says the Rockies told the Cubs they didn't have room in the budget for Marquis.  The Rox may attempt to acquire a starter via trade, using Huston Street and Luis Vizcaino as chips.

Other notes from Renck: the Padres and Rangers have interest in free agent outfielder Cory Sullivan.  And interest in Willy Taveras is minimal given Friday's non-tender deadline.

5:13pm: According to MLB.com's Thomas Harding, the Rockies have internally discussed the possibility of acquiring Cubs' starter Jason Marquis.  However, Marquis isn't exactly the front-rotation type they seek.  Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald heard from Cubs people that "nothing of substance is getting done" on the Marquis-Rockies front.