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Orioles Re-Sign Chad Moeller
Catcher Chad Moeller agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles had declined Moeller's $850K option, preferring to have him on a minor league contract. Zrebiec says Moeller will battle recent pickups Craig Tatum and Michel Hernandez for the chance to be Matt Wieters' backup.
Moeller, 35 in February, hit .258/.313/.438 in 100 plate appearances this year while catching 239 innings.
Tigers Interested In Bobby Crosby, Adam Everett
The Tigers and Bobby Crosby have mutual interest, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Crosby might find a nice opportunity with the Tigers, who could give him a chance to start. The Rangers, Rockies, and Pirates also have an eye on Crosby, who hit just .223/.295/.357 in 272 plate appearances this year.
Beck also notes that the Tigers maintain interest in Adam Everett, who had been mentioned as a Red Sox target before they signed Marco Scutaro.
Braves Interested In Marlon Byrd
The Braves have "strong interest" in free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd, in the words of his agent Seth Levinson (MLB.com's Mark Bowman reporting).
Bowman, however, believes Byrd is "just one of many candidates that the Braves are evaluating." A Mark DeRosa reunion is possible, with DeRosa apparently willing to take a hometown discount. Back on November 23rd, Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Josh Willingham, Mike Cameron, Jermaine Dye, and perhaps Xavier Nady as other right-handed hitters on the Braves' radar.
Brandon Lyon Is Phillies’ Top Priority?
ESPN's Jayson Stark writes of "indications" that reliever Brandon Lyon is the Phillies' top priority as they set about upgrading their bullpen. Lyon is a decent fit in that he is willing to work in an eighth or ninth-inning role. However, with a strikeout rate below 7.0 per nine innings the last several years, Lyon is not exactly dominant. Lyon is a Type B free agent who was offered arbitration, so the Tigers will get a supplemental draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
The Phillies have also been linked to J.J. Putz and John Smoltz in recent reports.
Gregg Zaun Agrees To Deal With Brewers
1:33pm: ESPN's Buster Olney has the contract details: a $1.9MM base in 2010, and a $2.25MM club option for '11 with a $250K buyout.
1:18pm: Zaun is close to a deal with the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets that the deal is signed, and worth $2.15MM guaranteed (with a 2011 option). The free agent market didn't offer much, but Zaun was one of the better catchers out there. The Rays will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.
10:03am: Free agent catcher Gregg Zaun spoke to Don Landry and Gord Stellick of The Fan 590 this morning, and revealed that he'll sign with a team "possibly by the end of the day." Zaun confirmed that he'll be signing with the Brewers, Rockies, Rays, or Mariners.
My guess is the Mariners. How about you?
Odds & Ends: Oeltjen, Hensley, Gload, Halladay
Links for Friday, as team execs and media folk pack their bags for Monday's Winter Meetings in Indianapolis…
- The Brewers signed Trent Oeltjen to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Oeltjen, 27 in February, hit .303/.362/.500 in his third Triple A tour, playing the outfield corners.
- Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash spells out why his team won't be acquiring Roy Halladay, talking to McCalvy.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets six minor league free agents signed by the Marlins, including Jesse Foppert, Vinny Rottino, and Hector Luna.
- The Pirates expressed "mild interest" in free agent pitcher Clay Hensley, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hensley, 30, spent the year at Triple A in the Astros and Marlins organizations, posting a 3.56 ERA in 124 innings.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post feels there's "still a good chance [Ross] Gload returns [to the Marlins] with a two-year deal."
- Darren Dreifort's five-year, $55MM deal tops Jeff Passan's list of the ten worst contracts of the 2000s for Yahoo.
- Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues explains why the Yankees probably won't sign Rafael Soriano.
- In his Winter Meetings preview for AOL FanHouse, Ed Price says there was some discussion about a Tigers-Diamondbacks trade involving Edwin Jackson and Max Scherzer.
- ESPN's Buster Olney talked to rival executives who say the Tigers have not aggressively shopped Curtis Granderson.
- Olney doesn't think the Mariners will pay up for Jason Bay. He believes the Red Sox are "controlling the market" for Bay and Matt Holliday.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals are "increasingly weighing spreading what it would cost to retain Holliday over several players." Bernie Miklasz of the P-D feels the Cards are "enacting their exit strategy from the Holliday sweepstakes." I would not be surprised to see the Cardinals make their best offer soon - let's say $110MM over six years – and entirely move on if Scott Boras rejects it.
- SI's Jon Heyman tweets that Nick Johnson is "drawing interest from the Giants, maybe Braves, and a half-dozen more."
- MLB.com's Corey Brock talked to former Padres GM Kevin Towers, who will meet with the Mets, Yankees, Mariners, and Red Sox at the Winter Meetings.
- ESPN's Keith Law isn't impressed with the Phillies' Placido Polanco signing. My initial impression upon hearing about the signing is that no other team would've valued Polanco that highly.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that other teams have been more aggressive on Jamey Carroll than the Marlins. Other Carroll suitors include the Rockies, Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers, A's, Rangers, Pirates, Reds and Indians.
Rangers Claim Joe Inglett Off Waivers
The Rangers claimed infielder Joe Inglett off waivers from the Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Inglett, 31, hit .281/.347/.348 in 99 plate appearances for the Jays this year while playing right field, left field, and second base. He hit .360/.422/.516 in 186 Triple A plate appearances. Rangers GM Jon Daniels' thoughts on Inglett as the team's utility infielder: "Joe is in the mix, but we'll continue to see what else is out there."
Angels “Working Hard” To Trade Gary Matthews Jr.
The Angels are "working hard to trade Gary Matthews Jr. to clear money for other pursuits," according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. With Matthews owed $23.5MM over the next two years if traded, it will be difficult for GM Tony Reagins to unload a significant portion of the contract.
Matthews, 35, hit .250/.336/.361 in 360 plate appearances for the Angels this year, playing all three outfield positions. Between the contract, Matthews' loss of power, and his questionable defense, he has strong negative value. Without the contract, what would Matthews fetch on the free agent market? Maybe one year, $1-2MM?
If the Angels hope to trade Matthews to free up money, it would make sense to pair him with a more desirable player. Kind of like what the Cubs did with Aaron Miles and Jake Fox yesterday, but on a grander scale.
Nationals Notes: Hardy, Needs
The latest on the Nationals, courtesy of Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post…
- The Nats discussed a deal for shortstop J.J. Hardy, before he was traded to the Twins. However, with Ian Desmond and Cristian Guzman the projected starters, upgrading in the middle infield is not the top priority.
- Manager Jim Riggleman says starting pitching comes first, with Sheinin suggesting trades are preferred over free agent signings. You can see our list of starting pitcher trade candidates here.
- The Nationals also seek a catcher, more than just a backup type according to Riggleman.