Kotsay Signing Official, Aardsma Designated
7:38pm: The AP has the details: Kotsay makes a base salary of $1.5MM, but he gets $200K if he makes 300 plate appearances and an additional $200K for every 50 times up after that, up to 500 plate appearances. He could make up to $1MM on top of his base salary.
3:59pm: According to Art Martone of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox announced the Mark Kotsay signing today. He gets a one-year deal. The Sox also designated reliever David Aardsma for assignment.
Dodgers Release Andruw Jones
Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Andruw Jones has been released by the Dodgers.
As MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick points out, any team that signs Jones to the major league minimum will pay only $400K and the Dodgers will pay the rest of the $21MM he’s owed. We know the Braves are reluctant to bring Jones back unless he signs a minor league contract.
Red Sox To Sign Kevin Youkilis For Four Years
7:09pm: According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald the contract’s worth at least $41.25MM. Youkilis gets a $1MM signing bonus, $6MM in 2009, $9MM in 2010 and $12MM in 2011 and 2012. After four years, the Red Sox have the option of buying Youkilis out for $1.25MM or paying him about $14MM to play another season.
5:25pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe adds an important detail; the deal includes a club option for a fifth year at $13MM. It’s still unclear whether it includes any buyouts.
3:06pm: According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $40MM. There’s also a fifth year option. The deal buys out two arbitration years and two free agent years. The Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin says the deal is close but not likely to be finished today.
Youkilis, 30 in March, hit .312/.390/.569 in 621 plate appearances in ’08 while playing above-average defense at first base. He finished third in the AL MVP vote. Youkilis’ teammate Dustin Pedroia received $34MM for the same slice of his career ($40.5MM in total).
Braves Reluctant To Bring Back Jones?
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves appear reluctant to offer Andruw Jones a major league contract if he’s released by the Dodgers. If the Braves offer him a contract they would have to clear a space on their 40 man roster and risk losing a player, which could set them back more than the $400k they’d owe Jones.
Bowman writes that "all indications are [Jones] would have to sign a minor league contract" to have the chance to play in Atlanta again. However, he has interest in returning, so he could accept a minor league deal.
Tigers Interested In Isringhausen, Lyon
The Tigers are interested in Jason Isringhausen and Brandon Lyon, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.
Four teams with closer needs are considering Isringhausen, according to his agent, Dan Horwits. Isringhausen could make a decision by next week. Ken Rosenthal had a similar report yesterday that suggested the Cardinals could be interested and the Dodgers aren’t.
Beck writes that Lyon’s on a "similar timetable." Lyon’s agent, Barry Meister, says his client has drawn interest from four or five teams. Some teams view him as a setup man and others can see him pitching in the eighth and ninth innings. The Tigers have talked with Meister about Lyon recently.
Cards Could Pursue Free Agent Pitchers
According to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, the Cardinals would love to upgrade their rotation and could do so via free agency. Ideally they would trade an outfielder for pitching, but the Cards are interested in pitchers with limited health risks willing to sign a short-term contract.
Leach confirmed with Jon Garland‘s agent that the Cardinals "have called," but nothing has happened beyond that. Leach breaks down the chances that Andy Pettitte, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Odalis Perez, Ben Sheets or even Oliver Perez ends up in St. Louis.
The Cardinals appear unlikely to add a reliver or a second baseman.
Rockies Sign Scott Podsednik, Matt Belisle
THURSDAY, 6:05pm: MLB.com’s Thomas Harding adds a couple names to Renck’s list. Second baseman Luis A. Gonzalez is a non-roster invitee and Josh Fogg "could return to the Rockies."
WEDNESDAY, 3:36pm: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies re-signed outfielder Scott Podsednik to a minor league deal. Renck says the Rox also added Matt Belisle, Dan Ortmeier, Edwin Bellorin, and Cedrick Bowers on minor league deals. If he’s useful, the Rockies can retain Belisle in future seasons as an arbitration-eligible player.
Indians, Red Sox Complete Byrd Trade
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Red Sox have sent outfielder Mickey Hall to the Indians to complete the trade that sent Paul Byrd to the Red Sox last season.
The news comes the day after we heard that Byrd will sit out the first half of the 2009 season.
Hall, who turns 24 in May, hit .232/.333/.456 in 82 AA games last year in the Boston organization.
Michael Young Agrees To Play Third
According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, Michael Young has agreed to play third base for the Rangers this year. Young has also taken back his request for a trade.
This creates room for Rangers shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus.
Phillies Sign Pablo Ozuna
According to Scott Lauber, the Phillies signed Pablo Ozuna to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training. Check the link for the full list of Phillies’ non-roster invitees.