Valverde, Astros Reach One-Year Deal
Jose Valverde and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8MM, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.
Valverde, who made $4.7MM in 2008, made 44 saves last season (Houston’s single-season record). He had a 3.38 ERA from 74 appearances. The 30-year-old will be a free agent after the season.
Dunn Back To Reds Unlikely; Reds Looking At OFs
The Cincinnati Reds are still looking for outfield help, and a left-handed bat isn’t off the table.
Mark Sheldon of MLB.com wrote that much of the Reds’ search has focused on a right-handed bat, but since the market is drying up, the Reds are willing to look toward the other side of the plate.
“We’re open minded about it,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told Sheldon.
One slugger who could be on that list is former Red Adam Dunn, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2008, though Jocketty is pessimistic.
“I doubt it,” Jocketty told Sheldon when asked about the possibility of Dunn returning to Cincinnati. “Especially at the price he’s looking for.”
One name Sheldon listed was right fielder Bobby Abreu, but Jocketty said he hasn’t recently spoken with Abreu’s agent.
Royals Add Five To Spring Training Invite List
Dick Kaegel of MLB.com lists five players who have been invited to the Kansas City Royals’ Spring Training Major League camp.
The five, all minor leaguers, are Derrick Robinson (he won the Royals’ baserunner of the year award), outfielder Jose Duarte, and catchers Cody Clark, Jeff Howell and John Suomi, taken in the Rule 5 Draft from the Phillies’ organization.
Hardy, Brewers Avoid Arbitration
The Milwaukee Brewers and shortstop J.J. Hardy avoided arbitration by completing a $4.65MM, one-year deal, The Associated Press reports.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on it here.
Hardy, 26, made $2.65MM in 2008. He batted .283 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI over 146 games.
Minor League Signings
Three new minor league signings from Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles signed Jolbert Cabrera and Robby Hammock, while the Marlins inked Jay Gibbons.
Nationals Rumors: Young, Swisher
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has a few notes on the Nationals.
- The Nationals and Rangers have had basic discussions about Michael Young, but Harlan says the Nationals will not be players for him.
- So far the Nationals haven’t offered enough for Nick Swisher, but at the least he provides leverage to use on the team’s free agent targets.
- Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson remain of interest. Harlan considers recent stories about their high prices to be posturing by the Nationals.
Braves Sign Omar Infante To Extension
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves signed Omar Infante to a two-year deal with a club option. Troy Renck says the deal is worth $4.325MM. The club 2011 club option is for $2.5MM with a $250K buyout. The deal buys out one free agent year with an option on a second.
Infante, 27, hit .293/.338/.416 in 348 plate appearances in ’08 while playing second base, shortstop, third base, left field, and center field. The Braves acquired Infante and Will Ohman a year ago from the Cubs for Jose Ascanio.
Rays Sign Gabe Kapler
According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays signed outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one-year, $1MM deal. An hour earlier, Tommy Rancel of DRays Bay wrote that the two sides could be close to a deal.
Hard not to like the signing. Kapler, 33, hit .301/.340/.498 while playing all three outfield positions in his comeback season (he spent ’07 managing in the minors). ESPN’s Keith Law suggested Kapler showed enough to merit an everyday job in center field.
Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice Elected To HOF
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees: Rickey Henderson (94.8%) and Jim Rice (76.4%). Andre Dawson (67.0%) and Bert Blyleven fell short (62.7%). Tim Raines received only 22.6% while Mark McGwire was at 21.9%. Jesse Orosco got a vote; Jay Bell and Mo Vaughn got multiple votes.
Indians Avoid Arb With Kelly Shoppach
According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Indians avoided arbitration with catcher Kelly Shoppach, signing him to a one-year deal. The AP says it’s worth $1.95MM. Shoppach is under team control through 2011.