Fantasy Baseball Closers
RotoAuthority provides a look at the current closers for all 30 teams.
Rays Avoid Arb With Grant Balfour
According to Marc Topkin, the Rays avoided arbitration with reliever Grant Balfour by signing him for ’09 at $1.4MM. Balfour posted a 1.54 ERA in his breakout season.
Twins Inquire On Eric Gagne
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins inquired on free agent reliever Eric Gagne. Gagne, a Scott Boras client, posted a 5.44 ERA in 46.3 innings for the Brewers in ’08. It was $10MM poorly spent, though it was cool when Gagne bought up several thousand tickets to a September game and gave them away for free.
Cubs Sign So Taguchi
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Cubs signed outfielder So Taguchi to a minor league deal potentially worth $900K. Taguchi, 39, hit .220/.283/.297 in 103 plate appearances for the Phillies in ’08.
Ronny Cedeno, Matt Diaz Avoid Arbitration
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post Ronny Cedeno of the Cubs and Matt Diaz of the Braves have reached deals with their respective teams to avoid arbitration.
Cedeno will make $822K in 2009. Diaz will earn at least $1.2375MM, but could earn $50K more if he makes 600 plate appearances.
Indians Sign Vinnie Chulk
According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Indians have signed righty reliever Vinnie Chulk to a minor league contract.
Chulk, who has experience with the Blue Jays and Giants, has been invited to spring training and will compete for the final spot in the Cleveland ‘pen.
Odds And Ends: Garland, Selig, Arbitration
Links for Thursday night:
- Nick Piecoro thinks the D’Backs could use Jon Garland to provide some solid innings, but their chances of acquiring him are much lower now that he’s rejected their offer.
- Yahoo’s Tim Brown passes along a bizarre Scott Boras quote: "Baseball markets are like breakfast." More specifically, Boras called this market "an Aunt Jemima market."
- Bud Selig talked economics with MLB owners and admitted that baseball’s not "recession proof."
- Ryan Howard leads an impressive class of players who filed for arbitration.
- Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi hasn’t gone to an arbitration hearing yet, and MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian doesn’t expect that streak to end soon.
- Rob Neyer likes the depth in the Boston rotation, but he thinks the Mets still need another arm and maybe two.
Zaun Agrees To Terms With Orioles
Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports that Gregg Zaun has agreed to a one year contract with the Orioles that includes a team option for 2010. Zaun will earn $1.5MM in 2009 and the Orioles have the option of paying him $2MM in 2010 or buying him out for $500K.
A physical is scheduled for Tuesday.
Orioles president Andy MacPhail said he expects Zaun to do the "lion’s share of the catching" at first, even with top prospect Matt Wieters around.
Padres Claim Jae Kuk Ryu Off Waivers
The Padres claimed 25-year-old righty Jae Kuk Ryu off waivers from the Rays; here’s the MLB.com story.
On his personal blog, Padres executive Paul DePodesta writes that he likes the pickup because Ryu’s got good enough stuff to compete for a job in the Padres’ rotation or in their bullpen.
DePodesta writes that there’s "more activity forthcoming." Ken Rosenthal heard the Padres are likely to pass on Omar Vizquel.
Nats To Sign Colome, Invite Dozens To Camp
The AP reports that Jesus Colome has agreed to a minor league contract with the Nationals. They released him last month.
Here’s the entire list of Nationals spring training invitees, via Pete McElroy of MASN Sports.