Padres Add Cliff Floyd, DFA Matt Bush
8:47pm: According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, the Padres designated right-hander Matt Bush for assignment to make room for Floyd. Bush was drafted first overall in the 2004 draft as a shortstop, but never made it past the Single-A level at that position.
6:16pm: Paul DePodesta, a member of the Padres’ front office, took to his own personal blog for a little insight on the Floyd signing:
We’ve been talking for a number of weeks internally about the need to add a left-handed bat into the mix, as our bench was looking awfully right-handed. In an ideal world, we wanted to find a guy who could provide three primary skills: 1) the ability to do damage against RHP as either a pinch hitter, DH or occasional starter, 2) the ability to play somewhere other than 1B if need be, and 3) the ability to act as a leader for our younger players. We found a match in Cliff.
8:06am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Padres have agreed to terms with outfielder Cliff Floyd on a one-year deal. ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the deal guarantees him less than $1MM. Floyd, 36, hit .268/.349/.455 in 284 plate appearances for the Rays last year; he suffered a slightly torn labrum in the World Series. He earned $2.75MM and had an ’09 option for the same amount declined in November. Rosenthal says Luis Gonzalez was the Padres’ second choice.
A few days ago, Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune suggested the Padres had Floyd and Livan Hernandez on the radar.
Nats Ink Odalis Perez To Minor League Deal
Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that left-hander Odalis Perez has agreed to return to the Nationals on a minor league contract. It’s surprising to see that he didn’t do better, but maybe Perez did what he had to to remain in Washington.
Perez, 31, finished with a 7-12 record last season, but he made 14 quality starts and wound up with a 4.34 ERA. It was his lowest earned run average since 2004. Manager Manny Acta had this to say about Perez at the end of last season:
"He has given us a lot of quality starts and the innings that we were hoping he would give us out of Spring Training. We think he could have easily won double-digits, almost 15 wins, with any type of help."
Glavine’s Return To Braves Not Certain
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal has heard from several major league sources that the Braves’ "tightening finances could lead to the departure of yet another Braves legend," Tom Glavine.
As Rosenthal writes, "the Braves, in greater need of another outfielder than another starting pitcher, might not be in position to add both."
The team is targeting Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady in trade talks, and has made contact with free agent Bobby Abreu. Each of those guys will earn over $5MM this season. Glavine is apparently looking for around $3MM in guaranteed money, which might not fit in the budget.
Phillies Still Eyeing Nomar Garciaparra
Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal spoke with Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. Thursday afternoon. Amaro reaffirmed the club’s interest in Nomar Garciaparra, but said he doesn’t expect an answer from the free agent infielder until spring training begins.
Garciaparra is supposedly considering retirement due to health issues. "Nomar has been great through the whole process, but he doesn’t want to put our team in a position to bring on a player who may not be prepared to perform at his accustomed level," Amaro said. "But if we can bring Nomar in and give him an opportunity to be in camp, if he feels like he’s healthy enough to do that, it gives us more depth."
Amaro said he’s "not sure" if Nomar would be willing to accept a minor league contract if he does decide to play this year.
Reds Hoping To Avoid Arb With Encarnacion
According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, the Reds are working to avoid arbitration with third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
A hearing is scheduled for February 17. Encarnacion is seeking $3.7MM while the club offered $2.55MM. The 26-year-old hit .251/.340/.466 last season with 26 home runs and 68 RBI, but his defense has been questioned by some critics.
How’s Joe Crede Doing?
4:53pm: Scott Boras told Christensen Crede is healthy and playing surface is not an issue. He implied that Crede will sign somewhere within the next two weeks.
1:54pm: Joe Crede‘s workout for scouts took place on January 28th, with the Giants and Twins the teams known to have attended. SI.com’s Jon Heyman heard the workout was "impressive," while Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said he "looked good." La Velle E. Neal III of the Star-Tribune heard on January 22nd that Crede "thinks he’s finally licked the back problems that have limited him to 144 games over the previous two seasons" after minor offseason surgery.
Christensen’s outlook today is less rosy – he’s heard Crede is at 75 percent. The Twins won’t guarantee the $5MM Crede and Scott Boras desire at this point. Christensen adds that Twins officials "seem about 90 percent certain there won’t be any notable changes to the roster before spring training." That means a reliever signing is unlikely.
Mets Sign Elmer Dessens
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Mets signed pitcher Elmer Dessens to a minor league deal potentially worth $600K.
Dessens, 37, pitched four innings for the Braves last year but spent most of the year in the Mexican League.
Mariners Sign Tyler Johnson
One of the seven free agent lefty relievers was plucked off the market today, as the Mariners signed Tyler Johnson to a minor league deal according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Johnson, 27, was non-tendered by the Cards in December. He missed the entire ’08 season with shoulder problems. He held lefties to a .224/.307/.418 line in 2007.
Blue Jays Add T.J. Beam, DFA Russ Adams
According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, the Blue Jays claimed pitcher T.J. Beam off waivers from the Pirates and designated infielder Russ Adams for assignment.
Beam, 28, posted a 4.14 ERA and 4.7 K/9 in 45.6 innings for the Pirates last year. The Bucs had signed him as a free agent in January of ’08, but designated him for assignment a few days ago to make room for Eric Hinske.
Adams, 28, hit .259/.341/.417 at Triple A this year. He was drafted 14th overall in 2002. He was the team’s starter at shortstop and second base at various points in ’05 and ’06.
Twins, Matt Guerrier Avoid Arbitration
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins avoided arbitration with reliever Matt Guerrier by signing him for $1.475MM for ’09 (the midpoint of their submissions).
Just a few days ago, the Twins and Guerrier appeared headed to a hearing.